When Erik ten Hag made his second double substitution, it seemed to stem more from desperation than inspiration. With Manchester United looking for an equaliser, he sent on Harry Maguire and Donny van de Beek, the man he deposed from the captaincy and the player he omitted from their Champions League squad.
And yet his first double change may have had a greater significance. The No 10 appeared on the fourth official’s electronic board and, along with Mason Mount, off went Marcus Rashford. There is a substitution of Ten Hag’s that has been booed this season, but it was the removal of Rasmus Hojlund against Brighton. This was not greeted with such dissent.
