Erik ten Hag has demanded “patience” from the Manchester United fans after his substitutions were booed in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Burnley.
The relegation-battling Clarets snatched a late point at Old Trafford after Andre Onana’s clumsy foul led to Zeki Amdouni’s penalty, which cancelled out Antony’s goal for the Red Devils.
United had struggled to break open their opponents when Ten Hag’s decision to take Rasmus Hojlund and Kobbie Mainoo off after 65 minutes prompted criticism from some corners of the ground.
Ten Hag explained: “It was the right decision and totally logical to bring off very young players who are in their first year of the Premier League and feel some fatigue.
“We have some very young players and that's why we built this club back. That takes time, and we build this by bringing in young players. Hojlund, [Alejandro] Garnacho, Mainoo - they are all in the first season of the Premier League and the league gets more intense year by year.
“I am very impatient but there we need patience and the fans need patience. We have built a team and they need experience.”
Ten Hag also criticised officials for failing to award “three” penalties to United as he insisted that his team is “one of the most entertaining” in the Premier League after the draw.
That is certainly true from a neutral’s perspective but his team rank in mid-table for goals scored and look destined to have to settle for a spot in next season’s Europa League.
The manager continued: “The great Manchester United teams, we forget they were also built. I have seen I think in 2004-05 they also didn't play that great football.
“They were building, and it takes time, but everyone forgets, even the players who were by that time in the team, they forget they were struggling and that they needed time to progress.”
