Erik ten Hag defended his decision to start Marcus Rashford on the bench after Manchester United played out a goalless draw at Crystal Palace.
Rashford was introduced in the 61st minute at Selhurst Park, where midway through the first half Alejandro Garnacho – the man who had taken his starting place – hit the crossbar seconds before Bruno Fernandes did the same.
Palace grew into the contest after the break and remained in the hunt largely thanks to an excellent effort from goalkeeper Dean Henderson against his former club.
Ten Hag said: “There’s already some speculation and some pundits’ (remarks) and that’s crazy.
“As a person you are not OK when you bring such speculation if you don’t know what’s going on.
“This is just rotation. We have many games to cover and we have more than 11 players and we have to give all the players, if they perform, we will give them the chances.
“And finally we will find out, of course, the players who perform better and who will play more.
“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 and so nothing to do (with him) that he was on the bench, just rotation.”
THAT double save, though 🤯
Well deserved, @AndreyOnana 👏#MUFC || #CRYMUN pic.twitter.com/2VKDWoGC5w
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 21, 2024
United dominated the first half, limiting the hosts to just one shot on target from Ebere Eze shortly before the break.
Palace regrouped for the second half, when Henderson made perhaps his best stop of the evening, a leaping save to deny Garnacho.
It was then Andre Onana’s turn to make the highlights package as he first denied Eddie Nketiah then substitute Ismaila Sarr’s follow-up from close range, a double save hailed by his manager as “brilliant”.
The contest was more eventful than the scoreline ultimately suggested, with six shots on target and 15 overall for the visitors to four and nine respectively from the hosts.
Ten Hag felt that “the only thing I can criticise is we were not clinical enough in the box, not decisive enough.”
But asked if, in retrospect, Rashford might have found the finishing touch on one of his side’s missed opportunities, the boss replied: “I have to say Amad (Diallo) is playing good, Garnacho, all the games so far, apart from maybe Liverpool, he has end product.
“We have to play them as well.”
Another afternoon of top support from you lot 👏🫶#CPFC pic.twitter.com/7ejhtA9yXd
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) September 21, 2024
Palace, who clinched a league double over United for the first time in their history last season, remain in search of their first win of the new campaign.
After losing to Brentford and West Ham, the Eagles have now drawn three times in a row.
Oliver Glasner demanded more bravery from his men during a half-time talk after he felt they were losing their “personality” in the opening period.
He said: “The first half was how we don’t want to play in any part of the game, out of possession, in possession, set plays.
“In the second half we switched the mindset just to play with more courage, and then we made more runs in behind and went more direct to their goal.
“(The first half) we were a bit too cautious, too scared of whatever, but it’s very positive we could switch this.
“When Crystal Palace plays Manchester United I think there are always times when Crystal Palace has to suffer, and we had to suffer in the first half.
“But there are moments to come back, and we had those moments today. I think also, to be honest, three points would have been too much today.”
Interim boss Stephen Frail expects Motherwell to appoint a new manager next week and admits their first job will be to lift the players’ confidence after a 3-0 mauling at home to Ross County.A double from Ronan Hale and Connor Randall’s last-minute strike secured an impressive victory for the Staggies at Fir Park.Defeat sees the Steelmen drop into the bottom half of the Premiership tab...
Mark Hughes heaped praise on goalkeeper Gabe Breeze after Carlisle picked up a vital point in the League Two relegation battle with a goalless draw against in-form Colchester at Brunton Park.Breeze made two excellent saves from Lyle Taylor as the Cumbrians ended a four-game losing run and the former Man City boss was astounded by the 21-year-old’s performance.He said: “The game had som...
Chesterfield boss Paul Cook launched a scathing attack on his play-off hopefuls after they surrendered an early lead to lose 3-1 at Sky Bet League Two table-toppers Walsall.The Spireites enjoyed a rapid start when Jamie Grimes’ eighth-minute header put them ahead against a wobbling Walsall side, who were winless in five matches with the chasing pack closing in.However, Bim Pepple and Dylan D...
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has allayed fears of an injury scare to top scorer Erling Haaland ahead of next week’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid.Haaland went down clutching his leg in the latter stages of the champions’ 4-0 Premier League thrashing of Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and was immediately substituted.Losing the Norwegian would be a major blow to ...
Rotherham manager Steve Evans described Thomas Parsons’ performance as “atrocious” after the referee awarded a stoppage-time penalty from which Reading snatched a 2-1 victory in League One.Reading had led 1-0 at half-time through top scorer Harvey Knibbs but Sam Nombe levelled for Rotherham from a spot-kick in the 57th minute.With the game heading for a draw, Parsons adjudged Mil...
Michael Flynn believes his team can make a charge towards the League Two play-offs places after watching them come from 2-0 down to beat Barrow 3-2 at home.Matty Taylor scored twice before fellow substitute Ashley Hay hit the winner as the Robins continued their perfect home record in 2025.Cheltenham climbed to 13th in the table and sit eight points off seventh-placed Crewe with two games in hand....
Birmingham manager Chris Davies praised Jay Stansfield’s work ethic after he lit up St Andrew’s with the only goal of a 1-0 win to sink play-off chasing Charlton.Stansfield’s 23rd-minute strike stretched City’s lead to nine points ahead of second-placed Wycombe, with Blues boasting a game in hand.Victory was City’s 30th in all competitions as they extended their unbea...
Andoni Iraola refused to get carried away after Bournemouth fans were left dreaming of a potential Champions League adventure following a first league double over south-coast rivals Southampton.Travelling Cherries fans chanted of playing in European football’s premier competition next season after their side soared to fifth spot in the Premier League table thanks to a deserved 3-1 success at...
Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup praised his side for fighting back to draw 1-1 at Hull after he demanded “I want to see my football team back”.The Norwich boss had some tough words for his team as they trailed 1-0 at half-time to the relegation-threatened side, including for Kellen Fisher – but the player then delivered the assist for Josh Sargent’s equaliser.The Un...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says Jota has a chance of starting against Bayern Munich after scoring and impressing in a 3-0 victory over Dundee United.Jota earned the club’s man-of-the-match award after cutting in from the left and curling home from 18 yards to double the lead given to the hosts by another impressive finish from Callum McGregor.The Portuguese winger has now started two gam...
