The most bizarre thing about Erik ten Hag's substitutes is some won't be at Manchester United next season

Dubious glances were exchanged once Erik ten Hag had exited the press conference room. Nobody was buying his rationale for the infamous triple substitution that set a frivolous tone for the final half-an-hour against Sevilla that contributed to Manchester United's capitulation.

"I had to make them," Ten Hag protested. "There was no other way. Rapha was injured, that was the first I had to make. And then Anthony Martial, first start after a long period, so we had to make him on the 60.

"Then Bruno: I got the warning from the refs, he was short before a second booking and the same for Antony dos Santos. So I had to make the subs, I had no other choice."

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Fernandes was booked against Brentford last week. So was Scott McTominay. Both stayed on for the duration. Harry Maguire saw yellow against Fulham last month and saw out the 90 minutes. Antony was booked in the 53rd minute of United's Anfield annihilation and committed another foul in the 88th minute. Antony was still on the pitch for the final shrill.

Even legislating for the officious nature of referee Felix Zwayer, whose booking of Fernandes warrants a review of the handball law alone, Ten Hag should trust players to manage the game.

Instead Ten Hag knowingly weakened United by introducing one attacker who has not scored a club goal in almost 14 months and another whose two goals in 21 games were both rebounds. Facundo Pellistri emerged belatedly and, true to form, had an instant impact, yet he is also without a career goal in Europe.

So little wonder the scoring stopped at two. It is a recurring theme with Ten Hag's United; the inability to put a team to the sword. In the end, they shot themselves in