Ten Hag explains double substitution

The Old Trafford crowd reacted negatively to the decision to take the pair off, particularly Mainoo, as Amad and Scott McTominay entered the fray.

The game was goalless at the time and, although Antony made the breakthrough, the Clarets were handed a late lifeline when VAR awarded a penalty for a foul by Andre Onana on Zeki Amdouni. The same player scored the spot-kick and two costly points were dropped as a result.

With a taxing week taking its toll, the boss was happy to explain why he made the changes, following the Emirates FA Cup semi-final victory over Coventry City, and a penalty shootout, and midweek triumph against Sheffield United.

"What the crowd doesn't understand is it's a 19-year-old boy [Mainoo] in his first Premier League season," said Ten Hag. "It was a third game in a week and we have to manage the game load. We don't want him to be injured. Last year, he had two bad injuries. You can see he gets tired. I want to protect him.

"Of course, by bringing Scott on, the game was really open, really intense with one-on-ones all over the pitch. Kobbie got tired and Scott had fresh legs and is very good, making movements and attacks down the middle."

Hojlund has had to overcome some injury travails this term and it is his maiden campaign in the Premier League.

"I have to manage the team and I have to, of course, be winning games," the manager added in his post-match press conference. "That's first of all and see what the game needs. By that time, we needed some freshness, first of all. But also tactical wise, brining a player up who can keep the ball and who is creative in Amad.

"So they were subbed and it was the right decision. You see, after, we took some benefit from it, by bringing in the fresh legs and Scott in the position where it's so open. He's very good in such situations and he can make penetrations from there. That also happened. We put ourselves in a winning position. We had three games and Burnley have had days off and it's totally logical to bring players off who are very young, who are in the first year in the Premier League and then don't even talk about the injury risk.

"Rasmus Hojlund had more injuries already in the course of this season. Kobbie also had some injuries. So I don't want them to get injured. I protected them as well. So there are more reasons to make the subs but I understand that the fans, they want to see the skills those players are bringing and contribute to the team. I understand that but I have to do my job and that is the right decision."