Erik ten Hag explains the real reason he substituted Anthony Martial against City

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Erik ten Hag has explained the real reason he substituted Anthony Martial against Manchester City.

Intriguingly, the manager insists it was not because the Frenchman was injured.

Instead, the Dutchman says his desire to to avoid an injury, with Martial not 100 per cent, he did not want to cause a more serious problem.

Ten Hag was complimentary about Manchester United’s number nine, who he wants to play a key part in the second half of the season.

READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfers in, out, loan deals for January 2023

Ten Hag explains Martial sub

Martial played the first 45 minutes and did not come out for the second half. He was replaced by Antony, a move Ten Hag accepted did not work out, having to reshuffle later in the game.

Eventually it came together, with United going on to win 2-1, a memorable derby day victory.

Ten Hag praised Martial’s attitude and the work he did for the team while he was on the pitch.

He told his press conference: “I hoped to avoid [him] getting injured. He was complaining, so that’s why he also didn’t train in the week and why he was a question mark. We decided, and he decided as well.

“He begged to start because I knew the start would be so important in this game. Especially because he is really good with his pressing and he is a really big element in our pressing, and he did that really well before half-time.

“But also you saw he was not capable to go 100 per cent and that’s what you need. Also, to avoid [him] getting injured, we took him off. But it also had an impact on our game, a negative impact after half-time.”

It had been thought that Martial did not play the second half because he got injured in the first 45 minutes, or aggravated the existing problem.

So it is good news to hear he did not suffer an injury, with the decision a reluctant precaution.

United have so many big games upcoming, this week alone, plus the cup games to follow, that Ten Hag had to take a long term view, despite the importance of the City fixture. He could not risk Martial being injured for a month or more.

It’s unclear if Ten Hag will be selected against Palace tomorrow, but United do have new loan signing Wout Weghorst available, a decision the manager will weigh up before kick-off.