Erik ten Hag may be about to benefit from going against Manchester United fans with one undroppable
The noise around Old Trafford as Marcus Rashford was replaced by Alejandro Garnacho against Brentford sent a clear message.
Manchester United were a goal down at the hour mark, huffing and puffing but lacking much of a threat in the final third. Rashford, as has happened all too often recently, was largely ineffective and as last season's top goalscorer was hooked, the crowd cheered for his replacement, Alejandro Garnacho.
Without digging Rashford out in particular, many around Old Trafford made their feelings clear that day that one of Erik ten Hag's undroppables needed to be dropped. A few weeks before, the travelling fanbase did the same by singing 'Viva Garnacho!' as the Argentinian sat on the bench at Burnley.
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Ten Hag has remained steadfast in his loyalty towards Rashford, who has credit in the bank after scoring more than twice as many goals as anyone else at the club last season. The consensus has always been that the forward just needed a goal to jumpstart his stalling campaign.
United did not directly benefit from Tuesday's effort in England's 3-1 win over Italy, but Ten Hag will have been happy to see Rashford scoring in such trademark fashion.
"I think it’s very positive he scored for England," Ten Hag admitted in his press conference on Friday. "And it was a very good performance from England, I really enjoyed the game. But also I enjoyed our players involved, you saw their qualities, I saw the qualities.
"The form was for the last few games maybe not that good but I'm sure I will back him, I trust him and I believe in him. And I’m sure he'll be back in