Erik ten Hag has clarified that his decision to substitute Marcus Rashford at half-time during Manchester United‘s 3-3 Europa League draw against Porto was not due to injury.
Rashford had an impactful first half, scoring the opening goal just seven minutes in and assisting Rasmus Hojlund’s second goal in the 20th minute.
Despite his strong performance, United struggled defensively and conceded two quick goals, allowing Porto to level the score before the break.
To the surprise of many, Rashford was replaced by Alejandro Garnacho at half-time, leading TNT Sports commentator Robbie Savage to speculate that the England international might have picked up an injury.
However, Ten Hag dismissed that notion, explaining that the substitution was part of his strategy to manage the squad ahead of their upcoming Premier League clash against Aston Villa.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Ten Hag explained, “We have to rotate. We didn’t start Garnacho despite his great form in the previous game and throughout the season. We have another tough game on Sunday against Aston Villa, so it’s important to keep players fresh and fit.”
Rashford’s removal was therefore a tactical decision aimed at preserving the forward’s fitness for the busy schedule ahead, rather than any fitness concerns.
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