“This is just rotation. We have many games to cover” : Erik ten Hag eliminates all rumors regarding dropping Marcus Rashford
In a very frustrating game at both ends, the Red Devils failed to hit the back of the net away at Selhurst Park, drawing 0-0. This was just the fourth goalless draw under Erik ten Hag’s regime in 81 games, as Crystal Palace’s defence managed to keep the visitors quiet.
Manchester United’s starting lineup was nothing new, except the exclusion of one name which led many fans and analysts criticise the Dutch manager’s tactics. Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp believed something ‘untoward’ happened which made ten Hag drop Marcus Rashford.
“It feels like something has gone untoward, I don’t know the details. But you don’t drop a player that has scored two in midweek and against Southampton. I’d be nervous to say he is back but he is showing signs of the Rashford from two years ago. It feels like something’s happened maybe this week, I don’t know the manager’s frustration. It is unusual for a manager to out players for their lifestyle,” said the Englishman.
Alejandro Garnacho could not make the best use of his starting berth and failed to provide any clear-cut chances of scoring, which made the choice of the Argentinian starting over Rashford, who has scored three goals in two games, even more infuriating.
“I’m very happy with Marcus, with everything” : Erik ten Hag affirms his faith on the Englishman
The Dutch manager, who was already rigid about Redknapp’s comments even before the start of the game, said post-match that Marcus Rashford was not ‘dropped’ in any way, and it was just a matter of rotation as the team possesses more than eleven starting players.
“I would almost say that, as a person, you are not okay when you bring such speculation if you don’t know. This is just rotation. We have many games to cover. We have more than a starting 11 of players. If the players perform, we will give them their chances. Finally, we will find out and the players who perform better will play more,” said ten Hag.
“This has nothing to do. I’m very happy with Marcus, with everything. With his defending part, offensive, he scores in this moment, he performs very good. So there is nothing to do with it that he was on the bench, just rotation,” the 54-year-old added.
The Dutch manager also added that apart from the 26-year-old, Garnacho and Amad Diallo are also playing good football, with the former having regular end product, so they also deserve a chance to be starting.
“I have to say Amad is playing very good, Garnacho, in almost all the games so far apart from maybe Liverpool, has had end product. We have to play them as well,” the former Ajax manager explained after being pressed on this topic.
The Red Devils currently sit at 10th in the Premier League standings, having won only two games so far. On their way to hosting Spurs on Sunday, they will return to the UEFA Europa League in the midweek playing against FC Twente, and the Dutch manager will have to have a permanent lineup in his mind soon, with the season kicking into the second gear.
