Ruben Amorim said that Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were not injured for Sunday's visit to Manchester City, despite being left out of the Manchester United squad.
Eyebrows were raised pre-match when neither Rashford or Garnacho were named on Amorim's bench for a game that United dramatically won 2-1 in the closing stages.
Since Amorim's arrival at the club, Rashford has netted three Premier League goals in four appearances, featuring in 220 minutes of action in the top-flight in those outings.
Garnacho, meanwhile, has scored once under the Portuguese, with that solitary strike coming in the Red Devils' 3-2 win over Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League last month.
But speaking after the victory at the Etihad Stadium, Amorim implied that the need to improve the standards at the club helped him come to his decision of leaving out the pair.
"The performance in training, the performance in games, the way you dress, the way you eat, the way you engage with your team-mates, the way you push," Amorim said. "For me, it is important.
"In our context, at the beginning of something, when we want to change a lot of things, when people in our clubs are losing their jobs, we have to make the standards really high.
"Today the team proved we can leave anyone out of the squad and manage to win if you play together."
Amorim's risky selection ultimately paid off, with his side scoring twice in two minutes late on to inflict Pep Guardiola's eighth defeat in 11 matches in all competitions.
Bruno Fernandes restored parity from the penalty spot after Amad Diallo was fouled inside the area by Matheus Nunes following the City midfielder's poor back pass.
Fernandes has now scored 21 of his 25 penalties for United in the Premier League, the outright most by any player for the club (overtaking Wayne Rooney – 20/28).
The win was sealed by Diallo with the game ticking into stoppage time, latching on to Lisandro Martinez before finishing past Ederson following an exquisite first touch.
The Ivorian's strike was just the seventh 90th-minute winner against a reigning champion, and the second by a United player. Robin van Persie netted the other, also against City, back in December 2012.
Ttkama
133
Very risky but it paid off!! The man is good
rieceikort
68
We thank coach for taking that brilliant idea to drop these players ( Rashford and Granacho), they are not serious about the club for winning games. They are very casual and wasteful. We need players who are focused and determine to win games.
Vuudikprtu
57
Especially Rashford, the guy is just too selfish.
AbdulAzeezBashir
48
Amorim's risky selection you say! What risky about dropping Rashford and or Garnacho? Name or price Tag shouldn't determine making it in a matchday squad! Since coaches pay for team loses and bad performance, then every player is dispensable so long you are underperforming. Period! Nice move Amorim
rudacdirsy
37
that's what we want put them aside and bring those who can play thank you coach
Evans0323
23
Now that they won their fans won’t complain, if the match has ended 1-0 yesterday they would have said that it was the Coach that killed the game
lueeknoruz
23
No nonsense coach,we need head coach like Amorim to bring our club back
Davichi
17
Well-done Amorim. Those two have become spoilt brats and egoistic. They either change or get ready to eat the bench until they get sold. If you want to play for United, you play with your heart or not at all.
Namlrsuy
16
please coach next time don't risk bench them
aywydc1
15
very risky though it's a way to mark ur territory when u get to a new team Ten hag tried with with Ronaldo and Sancho, it didn't work out for him big Enzo tried it with small Enzo, it worked, now small Enzo has to work real hard to get back into the first 11
Medaeikrsu
14
Our Glory days are coming soon with Amorim on the wheels 💪💪🔥🔥
Pecabelpy
13
I really waited to see a coach who would teach rash a lesson now Bruno is the next coach. let the players humble
Pudbiksz
12
man utd is good for fans
Sezilnprt
11
Even if you bring in the academy players and give victory we’re okay. Victory is what we want.