Why Marcus Rashford isn't playing for Man Utd against Galatasaray
- Marcus Rashford not in Man Utd team to face Galatasaray
- Forward suspended after red card in the last Champions League game
- Antony comes into the side, while Kobbie Mainoo drops to the bench
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford isn't playing in Wednesday night's Champions League game against Galatasaray, giving an opportunity for Antony to return to the team.
Rashford found the net for just the second time this season during Sunday's 3-0 win over Everton in the Premier League, converting a penalty. He later dedicated the goal to his late cousin.
But Rashford was sent off in United's previous Champions League game - a 4-3 defeat to Copenhagen on matchday four. The number ten initially seemed to get away with a late challenge on Copenhagen's Elias Jelert, but a VAR intervention resulted in a straight red card.
It means that Rashford is carrying a one-game suspension that ruled him out of facing Galatasaray in what is a must-win game for United if they are to have any hope of progressing in the Champions League this season. He will be eligible to return against Bayern Munich on matchday six.
With Alejandro Garnacho keeping his place in the team from the Everton game, having scored arguably a contender for FIFA's 2024 Puskas Award - it missed the cut-off for a 2023 nomination, Antony is the player who got the nod from Erik ten Hag on the opposite flank.
The Brazilian winger wasn't deemed fully fit to face Everton following a recent knock and will be desperate to recapture some better form after a poor few months.
There was, to the surprise of many, no Kobbie Mainoo in the United lineup either. The 18-year-old starlet was widely praised for his measured and mature performance at Goodison Park at the weekend - his first Premier League start - but has dropped to the bench in favour of Sofyan Amrabat.
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