Erik ten Hag revealed rotation was the rationale for Marcus Rashford’s shock substitution at half-time in Man Utd’s 3-Three draw with Porto within the Europa League on Thursday.
Rashford had been United’s finest performer within the first half, scoring his facet’s opener earlier than teeing up Rasmus Hojlund as Ten Hag’s facet flew out of the traps and surged right into a 2-Zero lead.
Talking on Sky Sports activities Information about Rashford’s first-half efficiency, former Wales striker Robert Earnshaw mentioned: “Marcus Rashford has been wonderful.
“Each time he will get the ball on the left he’s terrifying Porto. He seems to be probably the most harmful participant on the pitch for Man Utd.”
Nonetheless, United had been pegged again earlier than the break as Porto pulled a objective again by Pepe and Samu Omorodion equalised earlier than half-time.
Rashford did not re-emerge for the second half and was changed by Alejandro Garnacho, with hypothesis mounting that he will need to have picked up an harm. Nonetheless, after the sport Ten Hag defined the substitution was all a part of the plan as he seemed forward to the Tremendous Sunday conflict with Aston Villa, reside on Sky Sports activities.
“We’ve got to rotate,” Ten Hag mentioned.
“Garnacho, we did not begin him, however he had an important sport not solely Sunday however the entire season.
“We go shortly with a turnaround to Villa and so they have had a day longer to recuperate and we’ve an away sport.”
In his post-match press convention, Ten Hag added: “Yeah, however (alternative Alejandro) Garnacho was my finest participant on Sunday by far and in addition in lots of different video games,” he mentioned.
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“I feel within the season, as I assess it thus far, he’s bringing us thus far the offensive risk by creating probabilities, assists, additionally scoring.
“Garnacho we additionally must play as properly and we’ve two excellent gamers over that facet.”
Requested if the choice had something to do with Rashford’s function in Porto’s first objective, Ten Hag mentioned: “As I say, I’ve to observe it again and I feel over the left facet positively we did not defend properly tonight.
“Marcus additionally performed an element on this however, as I say, it needed to do with Garnacho and nothing towards Rashy.”
‘Do not choose Man Utd now’
Porto struck once more quickly after the restart by Omorodion’s second of the sport and United, who had been diminished to 10 males with 9 minutes left when captain Bruno Fernandes was despatched off for the second successive sport after amassing a second yellow card for a excessive boot, seemed to be heading for one more damaging defeat.
Nonetheless, Ten Hag’s facet dug in to salvage a draw when substitute Harry Maguire headed in from a nook throughout stoppage time.
Regardless of the purpose, United, who stay within the knockout play-off spots in 21st after a second draw, are winless in 4 video games and the character of this efficiency solely provides to the stress on Ten Hag forward of the powerful journey to Aston Villa on Sunday.
Pressed on his future, the Dutchman remained defiant, saying: “We’ll get there. Do not choose us on this second, choose us on the finish of the season.
“We’re within the course of, we’ll enhance. We’ve got two seasons now the place we obtain finals, (so) simply wait.
“We’ve got to develop and progress this group. We’ll work and proceed and we’ll combat.
“You see the spirit and the connection between the employees and the group, the gamers are collectively and need to obtain. We’ve got that good mentality, however some defending elements we’ve to step up.”
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Maguire’s backing for Ten Hag
United have now conceded three or extra occasions in a match on 24 events in all competitions since Ten Hag took over – greater than any Premier League facet has in that interval.
This was the third time they’ve conceded three in a sport this season alone.
Nonetheless, objective scorer Maguire went on to again Ten Hag to make use of his expertise to drag United by this tough spell.
“I’ve performed for this membership for six years and I understand how it really works,” Maguire mentioned.
“If you undergo a nasty spell, gamers come underneath stress, but additionally the supervisor does.
“He [Ten Hag] is skilled sufficient, he has been within the sport lengthy sufficient and has been at this membership lengthy sufficient, so I’m positive he has learnt easy methods to take care of it.
“It’s half and parcel of enjoying for or managing this membership, a part of the privilege that you’ve got.”
