Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag launched a scathing attack on the Premier League following his side’s win over Everton.
Scott McTominay and Anthony Martial were on target in either half as United secured a 2-0 victory at Old Trafford. The defeat brought an end to the Blues’ four-game unbeaten run.
However, the mood around Old Trafford soured in the closing stages when Marcus Rashford limped off with a muscle injury. The England international looked uncomfortable as he received treatment on the sidelines before being replaced by Wout Weghorst.
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And speaking post-match, a frustrated Ten Hag blamed United’s busy schedule on the forward's injury and questioned why the Premier League allocated United the late game last Sunday, and the early fixture his weekend.
"Yes!" Ten Hag replied when asked if there was anything that could be done to ease the pressure on his side's schedule.
"There are some things you can’t avoid, but what they [the Premier League] did was avoidable. Why is the Premier League giving us the late Sunday night game and giving us the early Saturday game?
"I think it is not right. You run the risk. Players can’t recover that quickly. We know all science research will give you that players need a certain period to recover.
"It is also part of the schedule that we now find ourselves in this situation, and now we can only pray that he [Marcus Rashford] is not dropping off."
Before the Dutchman added: "Not any manager at this stage of the season will rotate so much. I know it's the toughest league of all the leagues we are in you need a squad to rotate to a certain point.
"But this was avoidable, it was not necessary to set the schedule like we have now. I think another fact is more important than the sporting element like protecting the players. Today we have seen a very entertaining afternoon but players can't do it so often when they're not fresh.
"We create a lot of chances but missing the chances is part of a lack of freshness in the final moment and the risk of injuries. We have to protect the players and it's in the interests of the total football. Everyone, the audience, wants to see great football and you need to have your best players.
"I had that consideration but in that moment, you want also Anthony Martial, just coming back, you want to bring them back into routines and togetherness. Because when they are together we have two goalscoring players, clinical players, who can finish games and that's what we need in the final stage of the season to be successful. That's the reason why we kept them on.
"Also, there was no indication, when there was an indication in the last days or this game, then of course I would have taken him off."
When asked about Rashford’s injury, Ten Hag said: "I can't say in this moment, you are doctor, maybe? I am not.
"We have to wait, how bad or how good it is. Obviously he went off with a complaint, now we have to wait, set a diagnosis and we will see.
Reflecting on the game, the United boss said: "We have to be more clinical and more ruthless, and this game has to be finished by half-time, and we didn't. But it is still a very good performance, and it is still a big compliment to the team."
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