Erik ten Hag has called on Manchester United fans and TV pundits who played for the club to be patient after his substitutions were loudly booed during a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Burnley.
The United boss was forced to defend himself as Old Trafford showed open dissent when popular teenager Kobbie Mainoo was replaced midway through the second half with Rasmus Hojlund with the game still goalless.
Antony did fire United ahead after 80 minutes but relegation-threatened Burnley levelled with a late penalty from Zeki Admouni.
‘I am the manager and have to decide what the team needs,’ said Ten Hag. ‘It was the right decision and totally logical to bring off very young players who are in their first year of the Premier League and feel some fatigue.
‘They have both had injuries this season and I want to protect them.
Erik ten Hag has called on United fans and TV pundits who played for the club to be patient
The Red Devils were booed after a disappointing 1-1 draw with Burnley on Saturday
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‘Fans need patience. I understand they want to see the skills of these players but the league gets more intense year by year and the youngsters need to adjust. That takes time.
Ten Hag also took a dig at former United TV pundits like Rio Ferdinand, Roy Keane and Paul Scholes who have criticised the current team for falling short of standards set by Sir Alex Ferguson.
The manager said: ‘People forget that the Man Utd team of 2004-05, they also didn’t play that great football (while Fergie was building a new team around Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo).
‘They were building and it took time but everyone forgets, even the players who were in the team.’
Midfielder Mainoo has become a firm favourite with United supporters in his breakthrough year.
The 19-year-old academy graduate didn’t make his first Premier League start until November but has quickly established himself in the first-team and made his England debut against Brazil last month, raising expectations he’ll be in Gareth Southgate’s squad for Euro 2024.
Criticism of ten Hag’s changes underlines the difficulties the Dutchman faces in staying in the job next season.
United are currently sixth in the Premier League table well short of Champions League qualification and are heavy underdogs against Manchester City in next month’s FA Cup final.
Hojlund, 21, has also struggled to make an impact since a £72million move from Atalanta, scoring only eight goals in 26 appearances.
He also took a dig at former United TV pundits like Rio Ferdinand, Roy Keane and Paul Scholes who have criticised the current team for falling short of standards set by Sir Alex Ferguson
Kobbie Mainoo has become a firm favourite with United supporters in his breakthrough year
