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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Samuel Luckhurst

Why Jesse Lingard did not come on for Manchester United vs Brentford

Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick said Jesse Lingard's lack of training time denied him an Old Trafford farewell against Brentford.

Lingard, 29, is set to leave United when his contract expires on June 30 but the academy product was unused in their final home match of the season.

Rangnick introduced Fred, Phil Jones and Edinson Cavani in the second-half of United's Premier League win as Lingard remained on the bench, having withdrawn from the squad against Chelsea due to personal reasons.

READ MORE: Rangnick sends Ronaldo message ahead of Ten Hag arrival

In an Instagram post, Lingard's brother Louie scolded United for their 'classless' refusal to play Lingard, claiming the club is run 'by people who don't even know the offside trap'.

Lingard was a member of United's FA Youth Cup-winning squad in 2011, struck the winner in the 2016 FA Cup final, scored in the triumphant 2017 League Cup final and came on in the Europa League final three months later.

Cavani emerged for his first appearance since the defeat to Atletico Madrid on March 15. Lingard had played three times since, starting against Norwich and playing almost the entirety of the 4-0 defeat at Liverpool, where he came on in the 10th minute.

Rangnick has been a vocal advocate of the five substitutes rule, which is due to be reintroduced next season, and also blamed that for Lingard staying on the bench.

"As you know for personal family reasons, he didn't train a lot," Rangnick said. "Yesterday was the first training session. Again, after he asked me to allow him some time at home.

"Tonight was one of those nights where I would have loved five substitutes for other players. Also, Alejandro Garnacho, I would have loved to have brought him on at 3-0 up and let him play him for 15 minutes. But then I had to decide between substituting and bringing on him or Edinson Cavani and that's why I decided to play Edinson."

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