Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has explained his defensive choices against Manchester City.
The Dutch head coach raised many eyebrows when he named Jonny Evans at center half next to Harry Maguire.
He also played Victor Lindelof, a centre half by trade, at left back in the contest on Sunday at Old Trafford.
After United lost 3-0 at home, Ten Hag explained his choices of leaving Raphael Varane and Sergio Reguilon on the bench.
"They played very well, I think, the centre," said Ten Hag.
"With [Andre] Onana, they played a very good game. Just what I expected.
"You know they [City] will come press us and no-one can actually be surprised.
I said it from the beginning, I need the players on the left side who can make angles and also to step in and, especially against City, with the side they press us, you have to step in to get the press on them and I think they did this very well."
He added: "When you face City, they will go up to press and then to play with Rapha [Varane, on the right] and Maguire over the left, that can give problems and then you end up only kicking long balls.
"He is, for me, better on the right, Harry, especially against teams pressing high and, second, is you have to step in over that side and that was our tactic - to step in over [Julian] Alvarez and get Sofyan [Amrabat] higher to get [the] press on their build-up and that's why."
