Diogo Dalot insists there's 'no space for players not willing to suffer' under Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim after seeing Marcus Rashford & Alejandro Garnacho dropped for derby win

Rashford was notably absent from the 19-man squad for Sunday’s derby clash against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, just days after a subpar performance in United's Europa League win against Viktoria Plzen that saw him hooked off before the hour mark. Garnacho was also left out, and Amorim addressed the situation candidly in an interview with Sky Sports, stating: “I evaluate everything—the way you eat, the way you dress for a game, everything. I make my decision based on that.”

However, United did not miss the services of Rashford or Garnacho as late goals from Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo sealed a stunning 2-1 victory over City. The win, showcasing grit and determination, reflected the ethos Amorim has instilled since taking charge.

Speaking after the match, Dalot said of Amorim's philosophy at United: “I think it’s clear it’s coming from him. The message was clear from the beginning: if you want to succeed and if you want to thrive, you have to suffer. That’s not just in football but in life. If you want to have success, you have to work hard and suffer. I think the message is really clear. If you want to succeed at this club, you have to suffer and if you’re ready to do that with us, we’re going to be a good team. If you’re not, there’s no space for you.”

Speaking about the team's evolution under the former Sporting CP boss, Dalot added: "This was probably the first time I felt we were emotionally in control here. Even in the game, we felt we could win the game at any moment. It was the first time, for me personally, that I felt capable of doing that, so that shows some progress. I don’t want to give the cliche conversation all the time that ‘we need time’. Believe me, I’m here for almost seven years, I’m with the fans on that. We need to win tomorrow and yesterday. But the reality is this is step by step. With the new manager, we are doing progress and if you want to analyse like you should analyse, we are taking very good steps toward where we want to go, but it will take time.”

Rashford's exclusion from recent lineups has fueled speculation about his future at Old Trafford. Valued at around £40 million ($51 million), the 27-year-old is unlikely to move to another Premier League club, with Paris Saint-Germain emerging as his most realistic next destination, though a move to the Middle East is also not being ruled out.

For now, Rashford and Garnacho face the challenge of forcing their way back into Amorim's plans. With a crucial Carabao Cup quarter-final against Tottenham looming on Thursday, it remains to be seen if the United manager reinstates them to the squad.