Erik ten Hag has confirmed that Marcus Rashford has been rested for Manchester United 's must-win clash with Real Sociedad - but the Red Devils boss has a plan if they need him from the bench.
Ten Hag acknowledged that Rashford, who's had promising start to the season, is still recovering from a muscle injury. The 25-year-old forward netted his 100th goal for United on Sunday to secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory over West Ham in the Premier League, but he'll have to wait to be substituted on in northern Spain if he wants to add to his tally.
"We have to cover more games," Ten Hag told BT Sport pre-match. "Rashford also had a muscle injury a couple of weeks ago and a number of games are coming, and we need him. He's so important for us."
The United boss then went on to hint at his plan for Rashford, saying: "We know what to do, but it's about bringing tempo. You need a plan. Also therefore we have an idea with Marcus Rashford and the end of the game, how to deal with that."
In Rashford's place, Ten Hag deployed Donny van de Beek, who played just 34 minutes this season going into the match with Real Sociedad. The United manager also decided to bring in Victor Lindelof and Alejandro Garnacho for Harry Maguire and Antony Elanga respectively. On what Van de Beek can offer, Ten Hag told MUTV : "Definitely scoring abilities, he’s good in movements, in between the lines, getting in behind."
The match at the Reale Arena was Ten Hag's first decisive game since taking charge, with the Red Devils keen to avoid two extra fixtures in February against opposition relegated from the Champions League. If they fail to win by two or more goals, which would see them usurp Real Sociedad at the top of Group E, United could face the likes of Barcelona and Juventus early next year, bidding for a place in the Europa League last 16.
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"Obviously it's important. We can win," Ten Hag explained at his press conference. "We know what to do. We have to win with two goals difference. But finally if you want to win the trophy, you have to win all the games, so we have to beat every one."
The Red Devils fell to their only defeat of the group stage in the reverse fixture, as Real Sociedad claimed a 1-0 win thanks to a Brais Mendez penalty. Ten Hag hopes that United have made progress since, adding: "It's six weeks ago or so and it's a different team. Not all of the players who were on the pitch [then] are with us.
"I think we've been growing in the last games, we develop, we make some good progress so we are confident. We know it's difficult to win games here. But we like the challenge and we know we have to win with two goals difference. So we have a plan for that and we'll do everything to get that done."
