Erik ten Hag expressed his dissatisfaction with Marcus Rashford's contribution to Manchester United's defensive lapses during their 3-3 draw against Porto. Despite this criticism, the manager clarified that Rashford's substitution at halftime was not a punishment, but rather a strategic decision to rotate his squad. United initially took a commanding 2-0 lead within the first 20 minutes at Estádio do Dragão, thanks to goals from Rashford and Rasmus Højlund. However, they allowed Porto to equalize in a rapid seven-minute span, with Pepê's goal coming from a cross that originated from Rashford's side of the pitch. When questioned about the decision to replace Rashford with Alejandro Garnacho, Ten Hag emphasized that the substitution was not solely based on that incident. After the match, Ten Hag urged observers not to judge the team based on their current performance, highlighting the need for patience as they navigate through challenges.