Erik ten Hag confirmed that both Marcus Rashford and Jonny Evans played through injury in the Manchester derby on Sunday and were forced off in the second half.
The Red Devils lost 3-1 at the Etihad despite a spectacular goal from Rashford putting them ahead after just eight minutes.
A double from Phil Foden and a late third from Erling Haaland gave the champions an impressive victory, but the match was made no easier for Manchester United by their ongoing injury concerns.
While he didn’t go into details on the problems they were suffering, Ten Hag said both Rashford and Evans pushed to be involved in the match despite not being at full fitness.
‘We had two players on the pitch which were not 100 per cent [fit]. Jonny Evans and Marcus Rashford, but they gave everything like the whole team and we are disappointed with the score,’ Ten Hag told Sky Sports.
On their current status, he said: ‘I don’t know, I can’t tell you Finally they had to come off, but I preferred to keep them [Rashford and Evans] because I think the organisation was very good.
‘Rashford defended well, and in the break we know his quality and he could have scored another goal.’
He added: ‘They fought to be part of this game but after 60-70 mins we had to take them off. That was not to our advantage.’
Ten Hag felt it was a good display from his team, despite the defeat which leaves his side 11 points off the top four.
‘I think it was a good performance overall, we went 1-0 up and we had our moments after it to score the second one,’ he said.
‘We defended very well and there were two defining moments when we nearly made a breakthrough and conceded the first goal.
‘Then you are disappointed, we have to accept it and still were had the opportunities to at least get one point, but the win was also possible.’
MORE : Why Erik ten Hag threw a water bottle in disgust during Manchester derby
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