“Immediately Erik Ten Hag changed him, we started losing possession. We could have won Crystal Palace today if wasn’t subbed off.”-United fans think ‘game completely changed’ after one Erik ten Hag decision in Crystal Palace draw.

Manchester United Fans Upset with Erik ten Hag’s Crucial Substitution in Draw Against Crystal Palace

Manchester United supporters were left frustrated following a key substitution made by manager Erik ten Hag during the team’s 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace. The match, which took place at Selhurst Park on Saturday evening, saw United fail to secure consecutive Premier League wins, despite dominating the game for much of the 90 minutes.

Throughout the match, United enjoyed a significant share of possession and created multiple scoring opportunities, but they couldn’t break through Crystal Palace’s sturdy defense. While Palace also had their moments, notably with Eberechi Eze missing two clear chances that could have handed his side an unexpected victory under manager Oliver Glasner, the focus of fan frustration lay elsewhere.

As the match progressed into the second half without a goal, Ten Hag attempted to inject fresh energy by making a series of substitutions. He brought on Marcus Rashford, Manuel Ugarte, and Rasmus Højlund, while taking off Joshua Zirkzee, Christian Eriksen, and Amad Diallo. These changes, intended to turn the tide in United’s favor, instead became the focal point of dissatisfaction among the fans, particularly the decision to remove Zirkzee.

Many United fans were quick to voice their displeasure on social media, particularly criticizing the choice to take Zirkzee off the field. One supporter noted, “As soon as Zirkzee went off, we lost that vital connection up front.” Another echoed similar sentiments, adding, “Zirkzee was creating opportunities, and the moment he was substituted, we lost that spark. The wrong subs were made.”

The disappointment continued to pour in from fans online. One frustrated tweet read, “The game changed after Zirkzee left. That decision made no sense.” Another fan pointed out, “The substitutions didn’t work at all today. Creative players like Zirkzee, Amad, and Eriksen, who know how to move the ball quickly, were replaced by players who couldn’t maintain that momentum.”

The feeling was widely shared across social media platforms, with another fan chiming in, “Taking off Zirkzee and Amad essentially killed our attacking threat.” The same sentiment was voiced by another supporter who stated, “Zirkzee’s ability to link play and keep attacks flowing is crucial, especially against a team sitting deep in defense. His removal was a mistake.”

The analysis wasn’t limited to fan reactions alone. Former Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp gave his thoughts on the game during Sky Sports’ post-match coverage. He highlighted the importance of capitalizing on United’s dominant display, adding, “When you’re controlling the game to that extent, you have to make it count. Unfortunately, the substitutions didn’t have the desired impact, and United will feel they missed an opportunity.”

The goalless draw left Manchester United sitting in 11th place in the Premier League standings, with just seven points from their first five matches. Fans and pundits alike are growing increasingly concerned as the team struggles to find consistency early in the season. For Ten Hag, the decision to substitute Zirkzee and the resulting backlash serve as a reminder of the fine margins that often define football at the highest level.