Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said Alejandro Garnacho "has to accept" being taken off less than half an hour after coming on as a substitute against Crystal Palace.
Teenage talent Garnacho entered the fray just before the hour mark, replacing Wout Weghorst and allowing Marcus Rashford to move central. The switch paid off, with England forward Rashford doubling United's lead from close range after Bruno Fernandes' penalty had given them a half-time lead.
Things changed, however, when Casemiro was sent off for his part in a 20-man brawl. Palace pulled a goal back through Jeff Schlupp, and Garnacho was withdrawn in a double change which saw centre-backs Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof introduced as United shut up shop and held on for victory.
"First, we had to see how they changed and then we had to see and anticipate how we could close the gaps and be compact, and how we would get away from our goal but also still have a threat into attack," Ten Hag told MUTV. "I think we had to change something and it's not always nice, like bringing off a player who would brought on [Alejandro Garnacho], but that is in the interests of the team and the player has to accept that."
United's manager also asked questions about the refereeing, though he had few complaints about the decision to send off Casemiro in isolation. "Casemiro crossed the line; you saw that," the former Ajax boss admitted.
"However, I'm unhappy with the inconsistent refereeing; not only this game but also [away to] Palace. They elbowed Martinez and last week with Eriksen. A lot of other players crossed the line, including some Crystal Palace players. VAR didn't intervene with them."
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Garnacho has enjoyed a breakout season at United after making his first-team debut last term, but hasn't started in the league since the victory over Wolves on New Year's Eve. The latest decision from Ten Hag comes at a time when the Argentine is yet to reach agreement over a contract extension at Old Trafford.
The 18-year-old has 18 months left on his current deal, and United are keen on a long-term extension with improved terms. Garnacho and his representatives were believed to be unsure, amid interest from Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, but recent reports on the continent suggest a deal has been practically agreed.
According to AS, player and club are now both satisfied with the financial terms and the duration of the deal, which will reportedly run until 2028 rather than the eight-year deal originally chased by the Premier League club. United have big plans for Garnacho after seeing him score his first senior goals for the club this season, in wins away to Real Sociedad and Fulham.
