Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag clarified that Marcus Rashford’s early substitution during the Europa League clash against Porto on October 4 was purely for squad rotation purposes. Speculation grew after Rashford was subbed off at half-time for Alejandro Garnacho, following a similar decision in the previous Premier League match against Crystal Palace.
Rashford’s recent form has faced criticism, with many questioning his long-term future at both Manchester United and the national team. However, in the Porto match, Rashford played a key role, scoring the opening goal and assisting Rasmus H¸jlund for the second, putting United in control early.
“We have to rotate. Garnacho, we didn’t start him, but he had a great game, not only Sunday but the whole season,” Ten Hag said.
“I have to watch it back and over the left side, definitely we didn’t defend well tonight. Marcus also played a part in this but, as I say, it had to do with Garnacho coming on – and nothing against Rashford. We have to rotate. We have a tough game on Sunday [at Villa Park] and we need players fresh,” Ten Hag added.
Despite this strong start, Rashford was replaced, which further fuelled rumours of a potential fallout between him and Ten Hag. After the match, Ten Hag was clear that the decision to substitute Rashford was based on the need to rotate the squad and give Garnacho an opportunity.
With United having made several high-profile signings over the summer, Ten Hag has a wealth of attacking options at his disposal, including Antony, Amad Diallo, Joshua Zirkzee, and Garnacho. As a result, Rashford’s starting position has come under scrutiny, although Ten Hag dismissed any notion of a falling out between the two.
Manchester United’s poor start to the season has added pressure on Ten Hag, with only three wins out of nine matches across all competitions. Their form in European competitions has also been dismal, with just one win in their last ten games, raising concerns among fans and pundits alike.
As speculation continues around Rashford’s role and United’s struggles, Ten Hag faces the challenge of turning their season around while managing the squad effectively.
