Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has said that he substituted both Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Hojlund during Saturday's Premier League clash with Burnley in order to protect the pair.
The duo were replaced in the 65th minute of the contest at Old Trafford, with Scott McTominay and Amad Diallo entering the field, and the double substitution led to boos from sections of the home side's supporters.
Man United went on to take the lead in the 79th minute of the game through Antony, but the Clarets levelled in the latter stages of the match courtesy of a penalty from Zeki Amdouni.
Ten Hag has explained his call to replace Mainoo and Hojlund, with the Dutchman determined to protect the fitness of the key duo.
"What the crowd doesn't understand is it's a 19-year-old boy [Mainoo] in his first Premier League season," Ten Hag told reporters after the match. "It was a third game in a week and we have to manage the game load.
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Man United fans reacted negatively to double change
"We don't want him to be injured. Last year, he had two bad injuries. You can see he gets tired. I want to protect him.
"Of course, by bringing Scott on, the game was really open, really intense with one-on-ones all over the pitch. Kobbie got tired and Scott had fresh legs and is very good, making movements and attacks down the middle.
"I have to manage the team and I have to, of course, be winning games. That's first of all and see what the game needs. By that time, we needed some freshness, first of all. But also tactical wise, brining a player up who can keep the ball and who is creative in Amad.
"So they were subbed and it was the right decision. You see, after, we took some benefit from it, by bringing in the fresh legs and Scott in the position where it's so open.
"He's very good in such situations and he can make penetrations from there. That also happened. We put ourselves in a winning position.
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Man United have five games left this season
"We had three games and Burnley have had days off and it's totally logical to bring players off who are very young, who are in the first year in the Premier League and then don't even talk about the injury risk.
"Rasmus Hojlund had more injuries already in the course of this season. Kobbie also had some injuries. So I don't want them to get injured.
"I protected them as well. So there are more reasons to make the subs but I understand that the fans, they want to see the skills those players are bringing and contribute to the team. I understand that but I have to do my job and that is the right decision."
Man United will take on Crystal Palace (A), Arsenal (H), Newcastle United (H) and Brighton & Hove Albion (A) in their final four matches of the 2023-24 Premier League campaign.
Ten Hag's side will then tackle Manchester City in the final of the FA Cup on May 25, with the Red Devils looking for revenge against the Citizens after losing last year's final to their rivals.
Matt Law
