Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag defends his decision to keep Marcus Rashford on the bench during their match against Crystal Palace

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag explained his decision to keep Marcus Rashford on the bench during the recent 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace. Rashford came on in the 61st minute at Selhurst Park, following Alejandro Garnacho, who had started in his place and nearly scored by hitting the crossbar, just as Bruno Fernandes did.

In the second half, Palace rallied, supported by a strong performance from goalkeeper Dean Henderson against his former club. Ten Hag noted that there is too much speculation regarding his choices, emphasizing that discussing such decisions without full context is inappropriate.

He highlighted the necessity of using the entire squad due to the number of games, indicating that players will earn their chances based on their performances. Ten Hag expressed satisfaction with Rashford’s contributions, clarifying that the decision to bench him was a matter of rotation rather than a reflection of his abilities.

In the first half, United had the upper hand, with Palace managing only one shot on target from Ebere Eze just before halftime. In the second half, Henderson made a vital save against Garnacho, while United’s Andre Onana also impressed, stopping attempts from both Eddie Nketiah and Ismaila Sarr.

Despite the scoreless outcome, Ten Hag acknowledged that his team struggled with strength and precision in the attacking area. He recognized the solid performances of players like Amad Diallo and Garnacho, who had shown effectiveness in previous matches.

Palace, aiming for their first win of the season, had drawn three games in a row after earlier defeats. Manager Oliver Glasner urged his players to show more resilience in the second half, which led to a more aggressive style that improved their performance.