Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has explained why he brought off Cristiano Ronaldo in his side’s goalless draw against Newcastle United.
The former Ajax manager brought off the 37-year-old with 20 minutes remaining and replaced him with Marcus Rashford.
Rashford wasn’t fit enough to start the game, but the England international had a glorious chance at the death to clinch all three points for the Red Devils.
Casemiro played a gorgeous outside of the boot cross into Rashford in the 93rd-minute, but our number ten’s header went agonisingly wide.
Erik ten Hag explains why he brought off Cristiano Ronaldo against Newcastle United
With Anthony Martial unavailable for this afternoon’s clash against the Magpies, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was handed his first Premier League start since mid-August.
The former Juventus man’s only start in the top-flight prior to today came in the chastening 4-0 defeat to Brentford in Ten Hag’s second game in charge of the Reds.
But with the twenty-time league champions chasing a winner against Eddie Howe’s Toon Army, Ten Hag opted to withdraw Ronaldo much to the dissatisfaction of the Portugal captain.
Ronaldo was seen muttering to himself as he saw his number appear on the subs board, and he would have no doubt thought that he would have buried Casemiro’s cross if he remained on the pitch.
Ten Hag explained why he brought off Ronaldo, who reunited with former boss Sir Alex Ferguson prior to kick off after celebrating scoring his 700th goal in club football at Everton last Sunday, after the game.
Speaking via The Athletic, Ten Hag said: “We have to cover four games in ten days.
“I want to keep the strikers fresh. We have to rotate there. Rashy didn’t have energy for the whole game, so we have to plan it.”
Ronaldo will be hoping his withdrawal means he is set to start Wednesday’s home game against Tottenham Hotspur.
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