Amid the ongoing dispute involving Jadon Sancho and Manchester United, recent reports indicate that the club is firmly standing behind their manager, Erik ten Hag.
According to a new report from The Guardian, the 20-time English champions are rallying behind their Dutch manager in the wake of the recent turmoil after their loss to Arsenal over the weekend.
The Guardian asserts that Manchester United is endorsing the comments made by Erik ten Hag, with sources close to the club asserting that there is “nothing to add” to the manager’s remarks.
Thus far, both the club and Ten Hag have chosen not to issue a public statement in response to Sancho’s post. However, it is expected that the manager and player will engage in discussions in the coming days to work towards resolving this matter.
🗣️ “Jadon [Sancho] – Performance in training so we didn’t select him. You have to reach a level everyday at Manchester United.”
Erik ten Hag on dropping Jadon Sancho from his matchday squad against Arsenal. pic.twitter.com/1nhSPBIdZw
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) September 4, 2023
Ten Hag, in his press statements, disclosed that he excluded Jadon Sancho from the lineup for the Arsenal match due to concerns about his performances in training. This prompted a swift response from the 23-year-old, who took to Twitter to assert that he had been unfairly labeled as a “scapegoat.”
For the Arsenal clash, Erik ten Hag decided to include academy prospects Hannibal Mejbri and Dan Gore on the bench instead of the English winger, despite Sancho’s impressive showings in the preseason for Manchester United, particularly in a false nine position.
It’s worth noting that Manchester United had previously supported Jadon Sancho by granting him time off between October and February of last season to address both physical and mental challenges. However, in this instance, the club is firmly standing by their manager, as they have consistently done since his appointment in 2022.
A prolonged history of issues of Erik Ten Hag with Manchester United players
Erik ten Hag’s recent clash with Jadon Sancho isn’t an isolated incident but rather part of a pattern that has emerged since his appointment at Manchester United last season. Notably, he played a pivotal role in a series of significant decisions regarding key squad members.
Last year, Erik ten Hag was instrumental in the termination of Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract following the icon’s explosive interview with Piers Morgan. This marked a bold move that reverberated throughout the world and led to the foundations of the emergence of the Saudi Pro League into the spotlight.
During this summer, the Dutchman decided to strip Harry Maguire of the team captaincy, signaling a significant change in leadership dynamics. Furthermore, he played a central role in the departure of David de Gea, a longtime goalkeeper for the club. De Gea was subsequently replaced by Andre Onana, a player with whom Erik ten Hag had a prior working relationship at Ajax.
Since Ten Hag took over Manchester United
– Ronaldo Out
– De Gea Out
– Pogba Out
– Bailly Not In Plan
– Maguire On The Bench
– Bruno New Captain
– Back In The Champions League
– Made Old Trafford A FortressHe didn’t get enough backing from the owners but still cooking pic.twitter.com/bXNQws2yDj
— Kobi (@UTDKobi) September 1, 2023
Manchester United also confirmed that Erik ten Hag played a key role in the decision-making process surrounding Mason Greenwood, who was released from the club following a comprehensive six-month internal investigation.
Notably, in December of a previous season, Erik ten Hag benched Marcus Rashford for a game against Wolves. This action was taken as a disciplinary measure after Rashford reported late to a team meeting.
Now, in September 2023, Erik ten Hag has once again found himself in a contentious situation, this time with Jadon Sancho.
What history has shown is that the club’s board and owners have consistently supported his decisions, establishing him as a strict disciplinarian at Old Trafford. This role is likely to be well-received by fans of the club who have voiced concerns about the professionalism of players at Manchester United on multiple occasions.
Discussion about this post