Erik ten Hag has finally gone into more detail about the Raphael Varane omission that caused such uproar prior to the Manchester derby defeat.
Jonny Evans and Harry Maguire started together as the centre-back pairing and the pair did okay but the exclusion of the Frenchman was bizarre.
Well, the decision, which Erik Ten Hag described as a tactical one prior to kick-off, certainly backfired as Erling Haaland netted twice in a brilliant performance for the treble winners.
Ten Hag has finally spoken out about his decision to leave out Raphael Varane for such a big clash against the noisy neighbours.
Ten Hag on Varane
Speaking in the aftermath of the disappointing defeat to Manchester City to the Manchester Evening News, Ten Hag explained the decision that the Old Trafford faithful really did not like.
“When you play City they will press and play with Rapha [on the right] and Maguire on the left, that can cause problems and you end up only playing long balls,” Ten Hag said.
“He [Maguire] is, for me, better on the right, especially against teams that press high.”
The Dutchman was pressed further for an explanation over the defender’s absence but seemed to look frustrated with the line of questioning from the media.
Varane injury
It isn’t beyond the realms of possibility that the French defender, who has been incredibly injury-prone, picked up another knock.
However, the staunch defence of his decision to leave out the Frenchman would suggest that it was a mainly tactical decision.
To leave a player out who, alongside Maguire, was so crucial for the Red Devils against FC Copenhagen was certainly a questionable decision and one that did not really work.
Evans and Maguire did well but what you miss from the French defender simply cannot be replaced by the pair and this was proven to be the case in the miserable defeat.
Things may have been a little different had the Frenchman started the game.
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