Fans have noticed trend about Erik ten Hag that is ‘costing them games’ as they draw against FC Twente
Erik ten Hag’s substitution decisions have come under scrutiny once again following Manchester United’s 1-1 draw against FC Twente in the Europa League.
It was a frustrating evening for Ten Hag and his side. United took the lead through Christian Eriksen’s powerful strike, and Marcus Rashford looked sharp throughout the first half, with Joshua Zirkzee also impressing in attack.
However, after a lackluster start to the second half, FC Twente equalized in the 68th minute when former Rangers forward Sam Lammers took advantage of a poor touch from Eriksen.
Just before the equalizer, Amad Diallo was substituted for Alejandro Garnacho. Then, with 10 minutes remaining, Ten Hag made three controversial substitutions, removing Zirkzee, Rashford, and Eriksen for Rasmus Højlund and Mason Mount, which left fans questioning his decisions.
Since joining United in the summer of 2022, Ten Hag’s substitutions have often been a point of criticism, and Wednesday night was no different.
One fan wrote: “Rashford, Eriksen, Zirkzee – three of the best players on the pitch getting subbed off? I get Eriksen made a mistake, and the left side was struggling out of possession, but MAN… I love Bruno, but he is having a stinker. Bruno and Eriksen OFF – Mount, Højlund on for me.”
Another said: “Ten Hag takes too long to make subs, and it’s costing us games,” while someone else commented: “Ten Hag and his poorly timed subs. Eriksen should’ve been subbed at the 60th minute. We paid for it today.”
A fourth wrote: “The second half was terrible. The defending for their equalizer was awful, poor subs, and game management from Ten Hag. Fernandes was having a shocker.”
A fifth fan remarked: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a manager get subs wrong as often as Ten Hag,” and a sixth added: “Ten Hag always makes the subs that should have been at 60 minutes around the 78-80 minute mark, and we almost always concede in between. He just never learns. Idiotic in-game management.”
What are your thoughts on Manchester United’s performance on Wednesday night? Let us know.Manchester United’s 1-1 draw against FC Twente has certainly sparked conversation, particularly around Erik ten Hag’s substitution decisions. It’s understandable that fans are frustrated given that the team looked promising in the first half, with Christian Eriksen scoring and Marcus Rashford showing his sharpness. Joshua Zirkzee’s solid performance in attack also gave United a strong presence up front.
However, the second half was clearly more challenging. FC Twente’s equalizer, coming from Sam Lammers after a mistake from Eriksen, put United on the back foot. The timing and choice of substitutions are where most of the criticism is aimed. Subbing off three key players—Rashford, Eriksen, and Zirkzee—when they were arguably some of the best performers on the pitch, left many questioning whether Ten Hag’s in-game management hurt the team’s momentum.
This isn’t the first time Ten Hag’s substitutions have come under scrutiny, as he’s been criticized for either delaying changes or making switches that don’t seem to fit the flow of the game. The fan reaction, particularly pointing out that Bruno Fernandes, despite struggling, was left on while more effective players were subbed off, echoes a common sentiment about Ten Hag’s decisions being too reactive rather than proactive.
Ultimately, United’s inability to close out games after taking the lead, paired with this ongoing substitution debate, suggests deeper tactical issues that need addressing.
