Manchester United manager 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 recently explained his decision to leave Marcus Rashford on the bench during the 0-0 stalemate against Crystal Palace. Rashford was introduced into the match in the 61st minute, replacing Alejandro Garnacho, who had started in his place and almost found the back of the net after striking the crossbar, similar to Bruno Fernandes’ earlier attempt.

Crystal Palace made a strong push in the second half, bolstered by an impressive display from their goalkeeper, Dean Henderson, who faced his former club. Ten Hag addressed the speculation surrounding his tactical decisions, stressing that discussions without understanding the full picture are often misguided.

He emphasized the importance of utilizing the full squad given the packed match schedule, adding that players will get their opportunities based on merit. Ten Hag made it clear that his choice to bench Rashford was part of a planned rotation, rather than a reflection of his form, and he was pleased with Rashford’s contribution.

In the opening half, United dominated, with Palace registering only one shot on target—a strike from Ebere Eze just before the break. Henderson later made a crucial stop against Garnacho, while United goalkeeper Andre Onana also impressed by denying efforts from Eddie Nketiah and Ismaila Sarr.

Although the game ended without goals, Ten Hag acknowledged that his side lacked the cutting edge and finishing power in attack. He praised the solid performances of players like Amad Diallo and Garnacho, who had shown promise in earlier games.

Palace, still chasing their first win of the season after three consecutive draws and early losses, saw manager Oliver Glasner push his team to be more resilient. His call for a more aggressive approach in the second half paid off, leading to a stronger performance from his side.