Erik ten Hag has insisted Marcus Rashford's half-time withdrawal during Manchester United's draw with Porto was down to a need for rotation, not a statement on his performance. (More Sports News)
United are still searching for their first Europa League win of the campaign, after Harry Maguire's late header salvaged🦩 a 3-3 draw in Porto♋ on Thursday.
After the Red Devils went 2-0 up through early goals f♎rom Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund, a strike from Pepe and a brace from Samu Omorodion h♈ad put them on the brink of another humiliating defeat.
To cap United's frustrations, captain Bruno Fernandes was shown a red card for a second successive game after also ꦦbeing dismissed in Sunday's 3-0 loss to Tottenham, having never previously been sent o𓆏ff in any of his first 241 games for United.
It was the decision to substitute Rashford for Alejandro Garnacho, though, that dominated post-matchꦛ talk, with no United player matching Rashford's eight touches in theဣ Porto box or three successful dribbles all game, despite his early withdrawal.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, 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.
"We go quickly🌞 with a turnaround to Villa and they have had a day longer to recover and we have an away g🍰ame."
Rashford now has 14 goals in the Europa League, moving him outright fourth in the all-time UEFA Cup/Europa League charts among English players, behind only Martin Chivers (22), Alan Shearer (21) and Jermain Defoe𓆉 (19)ꦚ.
Asked about the substitution again in his post-match press conference, Ten Hag added: "Yeah, but Garnacho was my best player on Sunday by far and also 🅰in many 𓆏other games.
"I think in the season, as I assess it so far, h♛e is bringing us so far the offensive threat by creating chances, assists, also scoring.
"Garnacho we also have to play as well and we have two very good pl🤪ayers over that side.&♑quot;
Pushed on whether the decision had anything to do with Rashford's role in Porto's first goal, which came down the England man's flank, Ten Hag said: "I have to watch it back and I think over the left side definite𒐪ly we didn't defend well tonight.
"Marcus also played a part in this but, as I say, it 𝓀had to do with Garnacho and nothing against Rashy."
