Erik ten Hag gives bizarre reason for Marcus Rashford substitution as Man Utd boss confirms attacker was not injured in Porto draw

Rashford was taken off at half-time in the 3-3 draw in the Europa League on Thursday, despite the England international scoring and assisting to give United a two-goal lead as their best player on the field.

• AFP

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Rashford was replaced by Alejandro Garnacho at half-time, sparking fears that he had picked up a knock but Ten Hag admitted he simply wanted to rotate his team to keep his players fit.

  • WHAT TEN HAG SAID

    “We have to rotate. Garnacho, we didn’t start him, but he had a great game not only Sunday but the whole season,” he told TNT Sports. “We go quickly with a turnaround to Villa and they have had a day longer to recover and we have an away game.”

    Pressed on his future amid growing pressure, he said: “I don’t judge us in this moment. I judge us at the end of the season. We are in the process. Just wait. We have to develop this team. We will work and continue. We will fight.”

  • Getty Images Sport

    WHAT NEXT FOR UNITED?

    Ten Hag’s side are winless in four matches and now turn their attention to Sunday’s game against Aston Villa, who approach the match at Villa Park in the wake of an incredible 1-0 home win against Bayern Munich.