ERIK ten Hag has revealed that his decision to hook Marcus Rashford at half-time against Porto wasn’t as a result of injury.
Rashford was substituted at the break after scoring one and setting one up in the first half of Manchester United’s thrilling 3-3 draw with the Portuguese giants in the Europa League.
Rashford opened the scoring just seven minutes into the game before setting up Rasmus Hojlund in the 20th minute to double United’s lead.
The Red Devils collapsed seven minutes later when they conceded twice in the space of seven minutes to go in level at the break.
Despite Rashford being the brightest spark in the first half he was still replaced by Alejandro Garnacho at the break.
The decision left TNT Sports commentator Robbie Savage certain that the 60-time England international must have been injured.
But Ten Hag has revealed that isn’t the case and Rashford was instead taken off with an eye on Man Utd’s clash with Aston Villa this weekend.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, he said: “We have to rotate. We didn’t start Garnacho after he had a great game, not only on Sunday but I think all season.
“On Sunday we have another hard game [against Aston Villa] so we need players to be available and to be fit and fresh.”
When probed on if Rashford could have played some more minutes, Ten hag doubled down on his decision.
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Adding: “We have to play Garnacho. We have a quick turnaround to the Villa game.
“They [Villa] have a day longer [to recover] and we are the away team. We want fresh players on the pitch on Sunday.”
United offered very little attacking threat in the second half without Rashford on the pitch and, after conceding a third to Porto, relied on a late goal from Harry Maguire to scrape a draw.
The Red Devils also had to play the last 10 minutes of the clash without Bruno Fernandes after he was sent off for two yellow cards – his second red card in as many matches.
Maguire’s late header may have done more than rescue a point for United, it may have rescued Ten Hag’s job too.
The Dutchman is under mounting pressure at Old Trafford after a dismal start to the season.
And Sunday’s trip to Villa Park will be a huge test with the Villans riding high off the back of toppling European giants Bayern Munich 1-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday.
There will be extra pressure on Ten Hag too with Man Utd chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe reportedly heading to Birmingham to watch on from the stands.
Ratcliffe hasn’t exactly seen the best of Ten Hag so far this season, attending only one game prior the Villa clash – United’s 3-0 home drubbing at the hands of rivals Liverpool.
The billionaire Brit was left with his head in his hand at United’s midfield horror show on the day.
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