Erik ten Hag says he does not regret taking off 18 year-old Kobbie Mainoo at half time as United fall to defeat at the City Ground.
Mainoo was replaced by Scott McTominay at half time in Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat to Nottinhgam Forest.
The United boss insisted he needed more energy in the midfield, with Mainoo playing a lot of football over the festive period.
“No, but he played a third game in a row in this week and that’s tough, where he’s coming from”, said ten Hag.
“I thought the energy was a little bit lower than the other two games this week, therefore we brought some new energy in. I don’t regret.
“I thought Scott brought energy, I thought second half was much better our side. The first goal, when you analyse it good, we were downsized. Nothing to do with the central midfield there.
“Second goal was a counter-attack where there was a miscommunication, we had players enough and the second part of it, in the first half there were some moments where Forest ran away. It’s a good play but we should have tracked that.”
Manchester United were without Rasmus Hojlund and Anthony Martial due to illness, with Marcus Rashford occupying the number nine postion.
Despite his goal, Rashford had an underwhelming game, with Hojlund unable to push on after is first Premier League goal against Aston Villa on Boxing Day
Ten Hag insisted it does not matter who plays, on the pitch, wins need to come.
“I don’t think I talk about players. Every time I am telling, doesn’t matter how we line up, we have to win, but the routines are not there and every time we have to swap”, said the United boss.
“Today is another example. When Hojlund is ill, we have to swap our frontline and we have seen it in the first half there was no speed in the game there.
“One thing is clear we are not consistent. We can beat the best teams in the league but we also lose games we should win and today was one of them.”
