Erik ten Hag’s ‘Crazy’ Decision Leaves Manchester United Fans Baffled
Manchester United’s 7-0 thrashing of Barnsley in the Carabao Cup has raised eyebrows, and not just because of the convincing victory. Erik ten Hag’s decision to bring on Bruno Fernandes with 62 minutes on the clock, despite being 5-0 up, has left fans scratching their heads.
The Red Devils were cruising towards a comfortable win, with goals from Marcus Rashford, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho, and Christian Eriksen already secured. However, ten Hag decided to make a tactical change, introducing Fernandes in place of new signing Manuel Ugarte. This move has sparked a lively debate among fans, with many questioning the Dutch coach’s decision-making.
"This is crazy! Why are we risking any of our usual starters at 5-0 up?" asked one fan on social media. Another tweeted, "Why not give Wheatley some minutes? Weird decision not to bring him on and give him a proper run." Someone else quipped, "Why show sympathy? We treat every game like it’s the final."
Ten Hag addressed the decision in his post-match interview, stating that the key was finding the right shape and attitude. "Once we found the shape and the patterns, we scored some great goals… We played with a lot of speed and we were very ruthless in front of the goal," he said.
While some fans may be perplexed by the decision, others believe it was a sign of ten Hag’s commitment to his team’s performance. "I think it was enjoyable to watch, and also the fans they liked it and appreciated it. You could feel again the good bond between the team and the fans," he added.
Manchester United’s victory sets them up for a potential quarterfinal clash against Premier League opponents. As the team continues to navigate the Carabao Cup, fans will be eager to see what other tactical decisions ten Hag makes.
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