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.”
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. La Liga, beware. Prime Antony is coming Fulham 0-1 Man UtdT Collyer MVP!!Story of Man UTD When you accidentally bring the goalkeeper out on FIFA Guess who likes you Spurs are in a relegation battle Arsenal and Michael Oliver Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Justtoonit, FootballLaughss, PL__OOC, originaltrollfootball)...
Angel Gomes has been linked with a move to TottenhamTottenham Hotspur have less than a week to potentially save their season as the January transfer window enters its final days.Ange Postecoglou brought in goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky from Slavia Prague earlier this month due to Guglielmo Vicario's injury being one of many that the Aussie manager is having to contend with.But with just days left of t...
Marcus Rashford is out in the cold at Manchester United and looking for an exit this January transfer windowRio Ferdinand has suggested Marcus Rashford is eager to part ways with Manchester United because of "over-scrutinisation for years".Rashford's future at Old Trafford remains up in the air following his explosive interview last year, in which he expressed a wish to seek a new challenge. The 2...
Dorgu is Man United's top target to fix their needs at left wingback and are stepping up their pursuit accordingly. Manchester United will increase their offer for Patrick Dorgu to EURO37-38m in an effort to get the deal over the line for the defender this week, according to Nicolo Schira. Lecce are asking for a fee of EURO40m for the 20-year-old left wingback, and have so far rebuffed United's bi...
The Ukraine international is expected to leave Arsenal before the market shuts next week.Sky Deutschland's Florian Plettenberg is reporting: "Understand that Atlético Madrid have now entered the race for Oleksandr Zinchenko."Serious talks are underway, with Atlético open to either a permanent deal or a loan with an obligation to buy."Current price valuation: €20m + add-ons. The 28-...
The former Red Devils boss joined Besiktas last week after four years out of the dugout.Casemiro is on the radar of Besiktas after falling down the United pecking orderSolskjaer is looking to bolster his squad, with reports in Turkey claiming he wants to bring in Casemiro and Marcus Rashford.The Brazilian midfielder has started just three Premier League games since Ruben Amorim arrived at Old Traf...
Brazil superstar Neymar is closing in on a return to his former club Santos, sources told ESPN on Sunday.Neymar remains on the roster of Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal, but the team's manager Jorge Jesus said earlier in January that the Brazilian attacker can "no longer play at the level we are used to," and wasn't registered to play in the Saudi Pro League, leaving Neymar eligible to play only in th...
Ansu Fati wants to stay at Barcelona as per Flick🚨 Hansi Flick: “I think Ansu Fati wants to stay and that’s ok… he’s improving in training, we will support him”. pic.twitter.com/lCPMHFhRm1— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 26, 2025Neymar agrees to massive pay cut to seal Santos returnBrazil legend Neymar Jr. has reportedly agreed to take a massive paycu...
Liverpool are yet to make any January signings but there is still plenty of time for the Reds to click into gear before the window closes.Arne Slot has done a brilliant job to put the Merseyside giants on course to win the Premier League title in his first season. There is still room for improvement in his Liverpool squad, though, with a number of exciting players having been linked.Another priori...
Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho is hoping to land Ansu Fati from Barcelona before the close of the January transfer window.Mourinho eager to sign FatiForward struggling for minutes at BarcaFenerbahce fighting for titleWHAT HAPPENED?Mourinho is hoping to add more titles to his collection in Turkey and currently has his Fenerbahce team in the second place in the table, just six points behind leaders G...
- 1 Transfer news and rumours LIVE
- 2 Atletico Madrid in talks for Arsenal Zinchenko
- 3 Napoli confirm Garnacho interest
- 4 'exciting' Betis on signing Man Utd flop
- 5 Lecce reveal Dorgu meeting with Man Utd
- 6 Teen arrested after shock abuse against Kai Havertz's wife Sophia
- 7 Man Utd attempted to sign Brighton's Enciso
- 8 Chelsea offer two players to Everton
- 9 Fresh Lauryn Goodman claims rock Kyle Walker’s marriage
- 10 Daily Laugh - Manchester City's defense