GARY NEVILLE wants “moping” Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho to use being dropped as motivation to raise their standards.
The Manchester United duo were axed from Ruben Amorim‘s matchday squad for yesterday’s trip to the Etihad.
Following the Red Devils’ dramatic 2-1 triumph, Sky Sports pundits Neville, Roy Keane and Micah Richards debated Rashford and Garnacho’s situations.
Neville, 49, said: “I don’t know about their long term future, but what is really clear is that [Amorim] mentioned engaging with team-mates, he’s mentioned standards.
“He’s giving us clues, in fact, emphatic clues, about the last few days that they’re moping and not doing their bit around the training ground.
“It’s standards in training and he’s thought ‘no, I’m not having it, I’m not accepting it’. Good on him.
“For far too long we’ve seen players mope around that pitch and still continue to get a game or on the bench. No.
“It’s got to be non-negotiable. If you don’t give your all in your job, you’re gone, you’re out. That’s it.”
Neville went on to add that he hopes the pair can use this as fuel to raise their levels and improve.
He continued: “We’ve been sat in this studio for years as ex-Man United players saying ‘give your absolute all’ and players haven’t been running back.
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“We’ve seen Rashford and Garnacho stand on that left and right wing and not chase back when full-backs have gone past them and still stay on the pitch. No more.
“I want Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho to come back stronger, take the message that they’ve been given by training at the training ground this morning on a Sunday with no-one else there.
“I want them to take this in the right spirit and become the very best players for Manchester United.
“I don’t care who you are, whether you’re Andrei Kanchelskis or Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Nani, whoever you are as a wide player at Manchester United you’ve got to run this way [forward] as fast as you can and run that way [backwards] as fast as you can.
“They have got the talent, they’ve got the ability, but if they don’t do that there is no place for you in the club, there is no place for you in the team.”
Richards, meanwhile, attempted to defend Rashford.
After Neville compared the forward’s application to that of Amad Diallo, Richards, 36, said: “It’s different though, for Rashford.
“He’s got the weight of the world on his shoulders, it’s pressure.
“You know what it’s like. Coming into the team as a kid, you run around.
“For me it just looks like Rashford’s got the world on his shoulders. It seems to me like there’s a bigger problem than just football.”
You have to earn the right to win football matches
Roy Keane
Exasperated, Neville responded: “Micah, I played with David Beckham, with Wayne Rooney, with Roy Keane…
“The pressure that Marcus Rashford is under is nothing like the pressure that David Beckham and Roy Keane were under.”
Richards then hit back: “But look at your squad. The names you’ve just reeled off. All serial winners. This Man United team are not all serial winners.”
As Neville reached for his glass of water, Keane responded to Richards: “We weren’t winners at the start Micah, you have to earn the right to win football matches.”
Rashford watched the match from home, and after the game posted a picture of his TV with the caption: “Yesssssssss! Love it lads.”
Explaining his selection decisions, Amorim said: “We try to evaluate everything training performance, game performances, engagement with team-mates, push their team-mates up.
“Everything is on the line when we analyse and try to choose the players. It is my selection. Simple.
“I don’t want to send a message it is simply an evaluation and they know it. The players are really, really smart.
“Everybody understands my decision and I have to choose. It is simple selection.
“Of course the context is difficult because we have to win games and we have a difficult situation now.
“I pay attention to everything, the way you eat, the way you put your clothes to go to a game. Everything. I make my evaluation and then I decide.”
Man Utd will next be in action on Thursday when they travel to Tottenham for their League Cup quarter-final.
AMAD DIALLO left Manchester City stunned as he turned the derby on its head.
The flying winger won a penalty, converted by Bruno Fernandes, in the dying embers to level it up.
But the best was yet to come as Amad flicked past an onrushing Ederson before expertly slotting in a dramatic winner from a tight angle deep into injury time.
Here’s how SunSport’s Neil Custis rated the Man Utd players…
Andre Onana – 6
He just does not fill you with confidence. Does not command his area and as we found out midweek in Plzen, his distribution from the back is a major plus for the opposition.
Wasn’t tested that much however.
Lisandro Martinez – 7
Looking a calmer presence under Amorim than he did before when he seemed to want to live up to his nickname from his Ajax days of ‘The Butcher of Amsterdam’.
Great through ball at the end to pick out Amad’s run for the winner.
Harry Maguire – 8
Had a great battle with Erling Haaland which the United man won.
The right call to bring the former captain in for such a big game. Looks like he suits the position in the centre of that back three.
Matthijs de Ligt 78′ – 7
A decent enough performance. Looked more comfortable alongside Maguire than other centre-back partners.
Diogo Dalot – 5
Mistimed his jump to be beaten to the ball by Josko Gvardiol for the City opener. Did not create enough going forward from his wing-back role.
Bruno Fernandes – 8
Missed a big chance after being put through by Hojlund and clipping the ball wide.
But when the moment comes from the penalty spot he is a cool head in the hottest of atmospheres sending Ederson the wrong way to equalise
Manuel Ugarte – 7
Sat in front of the back four and negated much of what Phil Foden was trying to do for the home side.
Noussair Mazraoui 78′ – 8
The best of the summer buys. Used as the right wing back on this occasion and is able to adjust to whatever is asked of him. One of United’s best performers on the day.
Mason Mount 13′ – 6
Looked very close to tears when he had to come off after early in the game. He is just getting no luck whatsoever with injuries and has not had a decent run since joining the club.
Amad Diallo 90′ – 9
The greatest moment of his career so far with a memorable derby winner. A brilliant run first of all to meet Martinez’ pass, he then clipped the ball past Ederson and while it was a scuffed finish he got it on target.
Had almost grabbed an equaliser with a flick header before that which was well saved by Ederson.
Then was alert to Nunes back pass to win the penalty that did lead to United drawing level.
Rasmus Hojlund 78′ – 6
Most we saw of him was a head to head confrontation with Walker when the City player slumped to the ground and a little fall of his own when he tried to win a pen.
But then he provided a great through ball for Fernandes which should have brought the equaliser.
Subs
Kobbie Mainoo 13′ – 6
Did a solid job as he came on in a deeper role than Mount and Fernandes moved forward
Joshua Zirkzee 78′ – 6
Not the man who is going to come on and change a game, but he did well to hold onto possession in the closing seconds.
Antony 78′ – 6
Came on to try and make a difference but is lacking the confidence which a lack of starts brings.
Leny Yoro 78′ – 6
Continues to ease himself back to full fitness after that summer injury.
Victor Lindelof 90′ – 6
No time to have any influence on the game.
