TalkSPORT pundit Martin Keown has questioned an important call that Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag made in the Red Devils’ defeat to Manchester City.
United suffered an embarrassing 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford on Sunday to their crosstown rivals, with City effectively outclassing Ten Hag’s men in the derby.
Erling Haaland opened the scoring from the spot-kick in the first half after a controversial VAR decision before doubling City’s lead early in the second half.
City star Phil Foden added his name to the scoresheet in the 80th minute and ensured that Pep Guardiola’s men walked away with all three Premier League points.
United’s unconvincing performance against City only added further pressure on Ten Hag, who has faced heavy criticism over the Red Devils’ form this season.
Keown speaks out on Ten Hag’s substitution
Trailing 1-0 at half-time to City, Ten Hag opted for a tactical substitution by taking Sofyan Amrabat off and replacing him with United star Mason Mount.
However, the change proved costly as Christian Eriksen lost the support of Amrabat’s defensive qualities and United conceded four minutes after the change.
Speaking on TalkSPORT (via Football365), former Arsenal defender Keown was far from convinced by Ten Hag’s decision to take off the “Rodri of their team.”
“You look at the manager and he said, ‘Okay, our midfield is not quite strong enough to get Amrabat in,’” he said.
“So, you get Amrabat in to manage the midfield and he’s the Rodri of their team.
“What does Ten Hag do? He takes him off at half-time. What is he thinking, the manager? Can you explain that to me?
“When we ask him questions after the game, can you ask him about the tactics because the answers are coming from shaped questions, whereas I want to know about his opinion?
“Don’t ask him a question, tell him to analyse his team because it’s not very good and I think that he’s kidding himself.”
United needed Amrabat’s influence
With Casemiro currently out of action due to an injury he picked up on international duty, United lost a crucial bit of influence in the midfield against City.
Amrabat, who has played as a makeshift left-back for United this season, stepped up in Casemiro’s absence and partnered alongside Eriksen in midfield.
The 27-year-old Fiorentina loanee has excelled in his career as a defensive midfielder and provided much-needed support for an ageing Eriksen.
Eriksen was heavily exposed without Amrabat’s presence on the pitch, with United legend Roy Keane admitting that he was ‘worried’ about the player’s performance.
Ten Hag rolled the dice with his substitution of Amrabat and, unfortunately, the change didn’t pay off in the way that the United manager had hoped.
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