Erik ten Hag offers shock explanation for Marcus Rashford substitution in chaotic Man United draw with Porto

Erik ten Hag has said Manchester United “have to rotate” after substituting Marcus Rashford off at half-time in his side’s chaotic 3-3 Europa League draw away to Porto.

Rashford had been United’s best player in the opening 45 minutes, scoring the first and assisting the second for Rasmus Hojlund, as the struggling side raced into a 2-0 lead inside 20 minutes, only to be pegged back to 2-2 by the break.

It appeared the only reason he might come off is due to an injury, but Ten Hag insisted it was part of time-management, with Alejandro Garnacho, who came on in his place, also needing minutes.

“We have to rotate,” the United boss told TNT Sports. “We have a hard game on Sunday (against Aston Villa) so we need players fit and fresh.”

Ten Hag later added in a press conference: “Garnacho was my best player on Sunday by far. Over the left side we didn’t defend well and Marcus also plays a part in this. But it was about Garnacho and nothing against Rashy.”

The gamble did not pay off for the under-pressure United boss, who saw his side go 3-2 down and captain Bruno Fernandes sent off again, before Harry Maguire rescued a point in added time.

The game saw familiar failings for United under Ten Hag, but he insisted patience is needed despite the threat of the sack looming larger by the game.

“We will get there,” he said. “Don’t judge us in this moment. Judge us at the end of the season. I said the same last season. We are in a process.

“We had three clean sheets not so long ago so we can defend. We have to go back to those habits. Only then you can win games.

“We have two seasons where we achieve finals. Just wait. We have to develop.”

United are next in action on Sunday when they travel to Villa Park to face Unai Emery’s high-flying side, on what might will be another pivotal encounter for Ten Hag’s future.