Crystal Palace boss explains Jesurun Rak-Sakyi half-time substitution in Man United EFL Cup defeat

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson explained that a tactical switch forced young winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi off at half-time in their 3-0 EFL Cup third round defeat at Manchester United on Tuesday evening.

Rak-Sakyi started the clash at Old Trafford, but the 20-year-old was taken off at half-time with defender Marc Guehi coming on for a tactical switch.

Southwark-born winger Rak-Sakyi scored 15 goals and picked up eight assists on loan at Charlton in League One last season.

He only registered 12 touches at Old Trafford and completed one of his six dribbles.

Rak-Sakyi’s only other start this season came in the 4-2 EFL Cup win at Plymouth.

Hodgson explained: “If it was a question of taking people off who had not had a good first half, he wouldn’t have been alone, so it wasn’t a question of that at all.

“It was a question of deciding that the best way for us to stem the tide of some of their attacks and maybe give ourselves a slightly better chance of putting the pressure on from the front was to play with two front players.

“That meant playing with the three midfield players and adding an extra centre-back. 

“Jes was the one who had to be sacrificed as a result.

“Can he take something from the game? Of course he will.

“He’s a young player and it’s really tough ask for him to come into a team that’s already several changes in the team and then to be asked to perform here in front of the Man United crowd against a very good Man United team.

“That’s a very big ask that we made of him there.

“If he has the character, which I believe he has, he will benefit from that. He will accept it [and say]: ‘That wasn’t the way I dreamt it would go, but now I know what it’s like. Next time I’ll be ready.’