Erik ten Hag explains surprising reason for Jonny Evans Manchester United substitution

Manchester United’s 3-1 loss against Arsenal yesterday has been partially blamed on the defence duo Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans.

Despite Victor Lindelöf and Lisandro Martínez starting the fixture as the central-defensive pairing, it was Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans who finished the game in the position for Manchester United.

This was due to both Lindelöf and Martínez having to be substituted for different reasons.

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“Victor was sick, he had to go out, and Licha said he had a problem on his foot,” Ten Hag explained after the game. “But I’m not sure if it’s an injury.

“We have to wait, we have to see, we have to make the diagnosis.”

With Scott McTominay not in the squad due to illness, it is a little surprising to hear that Lindelöf played through his own illness.

It also further shows the problems Ten Hag is having with his central defensive partnerships.

With Raphaël Varane injured for the next month, if Ten Hag is still selecting an ill Lindelöf ahead of his fourth-choice defender, Maguire, that really shows just how little he trusts his depth.

Jonny Evans came on in place of Lindelöf with 5 minutes of normal remaining in the fixture, and it was the deflected effort off his leg that saw Declan Rice smack in Arsenal’s winning goal.