Jose Mourinho has revealed Jesse Lingard and Henrikh Mkhitaryan will not feature for Manchester United against Feyenoord on Thursday following their performances at the derby.
Both Lingard and £26.3m summer signing Mkhitaryan were subbed off at half time at Old Trafford after struggling to influence the game.
United take on the dutch side in their first Europa League group stage game, but Mourinho has insisted his omission of the attacking midfielders is not to punish them – he has made the decision off the back of their underwhelming performance.
“The performances are the deciding factor,” said Mourinho. “How can I decide? Performances are the only way that I can decide.
“So if you’re asking me if they’re going to play against Feyenoord [in United’s opening Europa League group game in Rotterdam on Thursday], then no.
“And it’s not to punish them, it’s just to decide in relation to what I have. And what do I have? Their performances. So of course I’m going to play other players.”
Lingard scored four goals in 25 appearances for United last season under Louis van Gaal, following stints on loan to Leicester City, Brighton & Hove Albion, Birmingham City and Derby County.
Mkhitaryan, who signed to Mourinho’s side this summer after three years at Borussia Dortmund, has featured in all of United’s Premier League games this season, whereas the derby was Lingard’s first league match of the season.
The 27-year-old Armenia international netted 11 goals and created 82 chances for the Bundesliga side last term.
United face a Premier League fixture against Watford next before travelling to Northampton for the third round of the League Cup.
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