MOVING DON Erik ten Hag breaks silence on Jadon Sancho after return to Man Utd squad following explosive bust-up last season
Erik ten Hag has finally spoken out regarding his conflict with Jadon Sancho, yet he remains cautious about the winger’s future at Manchester United. Despite Sancho’s recent return to full-time training, Ten Hag has refrained from confirming whether the 24-year-old will have a long-term role in the squad.Sancho, who spent the latter part of last season on loan at Borussia Dortmund, resumed training at Carrington last week. Following positive discussions between the two, both parties have agreed to put their past disputes behind them. This marks the first time in ten months that Sancho has been permitted to train with Manchester United’s senior squad.
However, Sancho was noticeably absent from the squad that traveled to Norway for a pre-season friendly against Rosenborg, a match that ended in a surprising 1-0 defeat for United. When asked about Sancho’s future, Ten Hag reiterated that their previous issues are resolved but did not provide any assurances about his continued presence in the team.Ten Hag stated, “As we said, we’ve drawn the line. Manchester United needs good players and Jadon is a good player. We have drawn that line and we move on.” Yet, when pressed on whether Sancho will have a fresh start, he simply reiterated, “We’ve drawn the line. We move on.”
Sancho’s fallout with Ten Hag last season led to him being isolated from the squad. The conflict escalated after Sancho publicly disputed Ten Hag’s explanation for his exclusion from the matchday squad in a 3-1 loss to Arsenal. While Ten Hag cited poor training performances as the reason, Sancho accused the manager of making him a scapegoat. Sancho’s refusal to apologize resulted in his loan to Borussia Dortmund, where he contributed to the team reaching the Champions League final at Wembley, though they ultimately did not pursue a permanent transfer.As United look to improve their pre-season form, Ten Hag hopes the reintegration of key players like Sancho will bolster the team’s performance. United’s defeat to Rosenborg highlighted their need for improvement, as the team faced 22 shots in the match. Sancho, along with five other players, was left at home, which frustrated Ten Hag despite the use of a largely youthful squad.
Reflecting on the performance, Ten Hag remarked, “We can talk and make good on everything that was bad, but I am not that guy. I have seen that this is not the standard for top football.” In response to the disappointing first half, Ten Hag made significant changes, bringing in academy players for the second half.Looking ahead, Manchester United are set to play against Rangers at Murrayfield on Saturday before embarking on a tour of the United States as part of their preparations for the upcoming season. The next few weeks will be crucial for Ten Hag to finalize his squad and address any lingering issues, including the role of Jadon Sancho.Erik ten Hag has addressed his conflict with Jadon Sancho but remains cautious about the winger’s future at Manchester United. Despite Sancho’s return to full-time training at Carrington and positive discussions, Ten Hag has not confirmed a long-term role for him in the squad. Sancho, who had a loan stint at Borussia Dortmund, was absent from the pre-season friendly against Rosenborg, which ended in a 1-0 defeat for United.
Ten Hag emphasized resolving past issues but refrained from guaranteeing Sancho’s future in the team. He stated, “Manchester United needs good players and Jadon is a good player. We have drawn that line and we move on.” This follows Sancho’s isolation from the squad last season due to a public dispute with Ten Hag over training performance criticisms.
As United prepare for further pre-season matches, including a game against Rangers and a U.S. tour, Ten Hag aims to reintegrate key players like Sancho to enhance team performance. The upcoming weeks will be critical for Ten Hag to finalize the squad and address any remaining issues, including Sancho’s role.
