- Erik ten Hag made a surprise substitution for Marcus Rashford at half-time as Manchester United held FC Porto to a 3-3 draw.
- Ten Hag has given his reasons for wanting rotation and has admitted that the left side of defence is struggling.
- Diogo Dalot has been deployed as an inverted left-back, making him a target for opponents to attack on many occasions.
Erik ten Hag surprised Manchester United by substituting Marcus Rashford at half-time in Thursday’s 3-3 Europa League draw at FC Porto, despite the England forward having a hand in two of his side’s goals.
Ten Hag has suggested he is keen to rotate the attack to give Alejandro Garnacho more playing time. Especially ahead of this weekend’s tough clash with Aston Villa. But the Dutchman has also admitted the left wing is struggling at the back.
“We have to rotate. Today we didn’t start Garnacho. But he has been excellent, not only on Sunday but throughout the season,” Ten Hag said of Rashford’s withdrawal.
“As we have another tough game on Sunday, which is also an important one, we want each player to be ready to play, fit and fresh.”
“We have to go to Villa soon, they have had a day more rest than us. We have an away game coming up so we want the players who play on Sunday to be fresh and ready to play before the international break.”
Asked. If he made the substitution for Rashford because he played a part in the first ufabet https://ufabet999.app goal, Ten Hag said: “I have to go back and watch the replay and of course I thought the left side of us didn’t play very well defensively today. Marcus played a part in that as well. But as I said, I had to bring on Garnacho and it was nothing to do with Rashford.”
Rashford was partly to blame for Porto’s first goal by not chasing down Joao Mario. While the Portuguese side’s second came from the same position and the problems continued with their third, which also came from United’s left flank.
It has been a problem all season. Especially with natural left-backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia still sidelined with injuries.
Twente’s equaliser in United’s Europa League opener came from right-back Bart van Rooj, who charged down the Red Devils’ left flank. Shockingly, seven of the eight goals United have conceded in the Premier League have come from crosses or shots on the right flank. Which is also the left-back’s area of responsibility.
Rashford’s poor defensive performance in failing to stop Twente’s Van Roj was another example of how much he was responsible.
He was not on the pitch when Porto scored their third. While Tottenham Hotspur’s second on Sunday came from Dejan Kulusevski, who again attacked United’s left flank – but it was Alejandro Garnacho, not Rashford, who was playing on the wing.
Garnacho was far away and, surprisingly, left-back Diogo Dalot was also not in the frame.
This season, Dalot has been deployed as a left-back out of necessity to make way for Noussair Mazrawi at right-back. Although the pair could have switched sides. As Mazrawi was often deployed at left-back at Bayern Munich.
Dalot is not a regular left-back because when the team builds up the attack. He has to drop into the middle of the field, or what is known as an “inverted full-back”.
Dalot’s multi-tasking has been a double-edged sword for United, with opponents often attacking his side and it would come as no surprise. If their opponents this weekend, Aston Villa, see what all their fans see.