Ten Hag Clarifies Rashford's Half-Time Withdrawal Was Due To Rotation Needs

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Erik ten Hag clarified that Marcus Rashford's substitution at half-time during Manchester United's draw with Porto was due to squad rotation, not his performance. United are still seeking their first Europa League victory this season. Harry Maguire's late header secured a 3-3 draw on Thursday. Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund scored early, but Pepe and Samu Omorodion's goals nearly led to another defeat.

Bruno Fernandes' red card added to United's woes, marking his second consecutive dismissal after being sent off in the 3-0 loss to Tottenham. This was unprecedented for Fernandes, who had never been sent off in his first 241 games for United. The focus post-match was on Rashford's substitution for Alejandro Garnacho, despite Rashford leading with eight touches in the Porto box and three successful dribbles.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Ten Hag explained the need for rotation: "We have to rotate. Garnacho, we didn't start him, but he had a great game not only Sunday but the whole season." He noted that United faced a quick turnaround against Villa, who had an extra day of rest before their away game.

Rashford now ranks fourth among English players in the all-time UEFA Cup/Europa League scoring charts with 14 goals. He trails Martin Chivers (22), Alan Shearer (21), and Jermain Defoe (19). Ten Hag reiterated in his press conference that Garnacho has been outstanding this season, creating chances and scoring goals.

Ten Hag praised Garnacho as his best player on Sunday and highlighted his contributions throughout the season. "He is bringing us so far the offensive threat by creating chances, assists, also scoring," Ten Hag stated. He emphasised the importance of playing both Garnacho and Rashford due to their abilities on the left side.

When questioned about Rashford's involvement in Porto's first goal down his flank, Ten Hag admitted defensive issues on that side but stressed it was unrelated to Rashford's substitution. "I have to watch it back and I think over the left side definitely we didn't defend well tonight," he said. He reiterated that Garnacho's inclusion was not a critique of Rashford.

The decision to substitute Rashford sparked debate given his significant contributions during the match. However, Ten Hag maintained that squad rotation was necessary for managing player fitness amid a congested schedule. This approach aims to keep key players fresh for upcoming challenges while maximising team performance.