Erik ten Hag insisted he “had no choice” while explaining his baffling substitutions after sharing the spoils with Sevilla in the Europa League.
Sevilla scripted a sensational comeback at Old Trafford on Thursday, courtesy of two late own goals from Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire, to frustrate the Red Devils.
Their manager Ten Hag has also come under scrutiny for his choice of substitutions as after Raphael Varane’s forced withdrawal, the Dutch manager took off Bruno Fernandes, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial for Christian Eriksen, Anthony Elanga and Wout Weghorst around the hour with United 2-0 up.
However, when questioned, Ten Hag fiercely defended his choice and timing of the changes: “I had to make them. There was no other way. Rapha was injured, that was the first I had to make. And then Anthony Martial, first start after a long period, so we had to make him on the 60. Then Bruno: I got the warning from the refs, he was short before a second booking and the same for Antony dos Santos. So I had to make the subs, I had no other choice.
