Erik ten Hag is increasingly frustrating the Manchester United dressing room with his rash rotation, including the decision to withdraw Marcus Rashford at half-time against FC Porto, according to reports. Rashford was causing all sorts of problems down the left flank at the Estadio do Dragao and scored his fourth goal of the season.
But after Porto fought back from two goals down to equalise before half-time, Ten Hag opted to switch the 26-year-old for Alejandro Garnacho.
Following the 3-3 draw, which left United winless in their opening two Europa League fixtures, the Dutchman claimed it was simply rotation ahead of the weekend’s trip to Aston Villa.
Supporters didn’t buy it, though, which intensified the current scrutiny of Ten Hag’s position amid a woeful start to the campaign.
The 54-year-old has also made a habit of relentlessly rotating his defence mid-game. In Porto, he hauled Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez off for Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans.
And the discontent has leaked into the dressing room, according to former United chief scout Mick Brown, who spent over a decade at Old Trafford.
He has admitted his bemusement by the decisions and claimed that members of Ten Hag’s squad are growing frustrated with his treatment.
“I don’t understand the issue with Marcus Rashford,” Brown, who also worked as Sir Alex Ferguson’s second-in-command, told Football Insider.
“In the week [against Porto], he played like the Rashford we know, running at defenders, causing all sorts of trouble and scoring a goal.
“Then he gets taken off at half-time, and you assume he’s picked up an injury, but when Ten Hag was asked about it, he said it was rotation.
“It’s bizarre. Very, very difficult to fathom the thinking behind that. It’s not the first time it’s happened either.
“I’ve heard there are a few frustrations in the dressing room because of these decisions and the way he’s treating the players.
“The main issue with Ten Hag, for me, is trying to understand these decisions he makes. All that sort of thing [taking Rashford off at half-time] does is it just ramps up the pressure.”
Ten Hag looks set to take charge of United when Brentford visit Old Trafford in the Premier League on October 19.
However, following Tuesday’s executive meeting in London, there will be a widespread acceptance that results must improve if he is to keep his job.
United have won just three of their opening 11 games this season, including two out of seven league outings.
