Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag decided to bring Marcus Rashford off at half-time against Porto in the Europa League.
It was a surprising decision by the Dutch manager considering how well Rashford played in the first half.
The England striker put the Red Devils 1-0 up early in the first half and then assisted team-mate Rasmus Hojlund to make it 2-0.
However, Porto scored twice in the first half to make it 2-2 and at half-time, Rashford was replaced by Ten Hag in a decision that surprised fans and pundits alike.
Alejandro Garnacho was sent on to replace the in-form striker and Ten Hag gave a strange explanation for taking off Rashford.
he said ON TV:
“We have to turn. Garnatxo, we didn’t start it.
“He played a great game, not only on Sunday, but I think throughout the season.
“We put them in because we have another tough game on Sunday, a good game, so we need the players to be available, fit and fresh.”
The fans and some of the pundits do not accept this explanation from the Man United manager.
The game was there to win against Porto and it was an important game in their season, not only for the team but also for the manager.
Football pundit Don Hutchinson has questioned the manager’s actions and made claims about a possible rift between Ten Hag and Rashford.
He said while speaking to TNT Sports, as reported The Mirror:
“I don’t buy it. I’ve been in the dressing rooms at half-time, full-time and before games and it’s one of those where Erik has Hag – and I don’t ask him, because he knows his players and what he’s past – I guess from the point of view of ex-players.
“Marcus Rashford was playing really well and looked brilliant in the first half. So at 2-2, you’re going to tell me he’s been taken off because Ten Hag has an eye on the Aston Villa game? If you’re winning 2 -0 or 3-0 and you take him off because you’re trying to protect the player and give him less minutes to come into the Villa game, that’s totally understandable.
“But while the game is at 2-2 in a big game, I don’t buy the rotation, so I wonder if there was some kind of conflict or argument at half-time. This can happen. That’s what I would lean towards. I could be wrong, but that’s what I’m leaning towards.”
Erik ten Hag should have kept Marcus Rashford
Whether Hutchinson’s assessment of the situation is right or wrong remains to be seen, but questions will be asked about what Ten Hag is doing at the club.
His team’s lack of identity as a player and his lack of maturity in crucial situations has been a common theme in his time at Old Trafford.
The manager has been supported by the hierarchy in terms of new signings coming to the club and full authority to the manager to make changes.
With a tough game against Aston Villa for Man United, Ten Hag’s job gets tougher every week.
He needs to find some answers soon to his team’s problems on the pitch and if he can, the noise off the pitch will automatically fade away.
