Erik ten Hag has sent clear message to two underperforming Man Utd stars
On Saturday, Manchester United faced Brentford in a match where they struggled, trailing 1-0 until the last moments of added time.
Scott McTominay’s late goals secured a fortunate win for them, but their overall performance left much to be desired.
The defending for Brentford’s opening goal exemplified the sloppy approach that has plagued United’s season.
Despite the victory, there were few reasons for United fans to be optimistic, except for Erik ten Hag’s late substitutions that injected more attacking intent.
Ten Hag brought in Christian Eriksen, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho, Anthony Martial, and McTominay in a bid to salvage the game, retaining only two of his starting front six players, Rasmus Hojlund and Bruno Fernandes.
Ten Hag substituted 2 Manchester United star players vs Brentford
Marcus Rashford, who has struggled to find the net this season, was substituted for the third consecutive match, raising concerns about his form.
Alejandro Garnacho’s impact when he came on added to the pressure on Rashford, and it seems likely that Garnacho may eventually replace Rashford in the starting lineup.
While Rashford has had some positive moments this season, his performance has been notably less clinical and penetrating compared to last season, possibly due to a lack of confidence or motivation.
Rashford is not the only player whose standards have dropped; Casemiro, once a key player, has also seen a significant decline in form.
He struggled with losing possession and was partially responsible for Brentford’s first goal.
Casemiro, who used to be a powerhouse in midfield, has been underperforming this season, contributing to United’s defensive problems.
Ten Hag tried to shift his role to a more offensive one against Brentford, but even that didn’t improve his performance, leading to his substitution at halftime.
Ten Hag’s decision to substitute Rashford and Casemiro, two of last season’s top contributors in terms of goals and assists, indicates his dissatisfaction with their current form.
“I wanted more football,”
Ten Hag said, when asked why he opted to substitute Casemiro.
“One who brings passing, distribution, link-up play. So I thought bring Christian Eriksen for Case.”
This season feels markedly different from the last, and Ten Hag is clearly demanding better performances.
While the spirited comeback against Brentford may be seen as a potential turning point in the season, the key to United’s success lies in getting players like Rashford and Casemiro back to their best form over the course of the campaign.
