“He won’t be here with us next season. Either the board sells him or I will resign,” another Manchester United star, who called Ten Hag a ‘baby coach’ last season, has been told to leave the club this summer following the recent board meeting
Manchester United is set to lose one of its stars next season, as a controversial situation unfolds between Jadon Sancho and manager Erik ten Hag. Reports reveal that if the board does not sell Sancho, Ten Hag has threatened to resign. This conflict adds to the ongoing drama surrounding Sancho, who had previously labeled Ten Hag a ‘baby coach.’
The friction between Sancho and Ten Hag has been under scrutiny, especially after a public fallout last season. Before a crucial Premier League match against Arsenal in September, Sancho was sidelined from first-team training. This came after Ten Hag criticized his training performances, to which Sancho responded vehemently on social media.
Sancho, addressing his fans, stated, “Please don’t believe everything you read. I will not allow people saying things that is completely untrue, I have conducted myself very well in training this week.” He further suggested underlying issues, adding, “I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won’t go into, I’ve been a scapegoat for a long time which isn’t fair.”
Despite later removing the social media post, Sancho’s refusal to apologize to Ten Hag led to his exclusion from the first-team squad. This tense period culminated in Sancho returning to Borussia Dortmund on a six-month loan in January, casting doubt on his future at Old Trafford.
With pre-season preparations underway, new details have emerged about the incident that triggered the fallout. According to The Athletic, the dispute started during a practice match where Sancho failed to meet Ten Hag’s demands for pressing as an ‘opposition’ player. Frustrated, Sancho left the pitch early when given the option to do so.
Ten Hag’s public criticism of Sancho after the 3-1 loss to Arsenal exacerbated the situation. The manager remarked, “We didn’t select him. You have to reach a level every day at Manchester United and we can make choices on the frontline, so for this game he wasn’t selected.”
Attempts to resolve the conflict included meetings where Ten Hag sought to clarify his stance and arrange further discussions, but these efforts did not lead to a resolution. Sancho, who joined United from Borussia Dortmund for £73 million in 2021, was expected to apologize privately, a step he never took.
The report also sheds light on Ten Hag’s views on Sancho’s attitude. While acknowledging Sancho’s ‘incredible’ talent, Ten Hag reportedly felt that the winger’s attitude did not align with the winning culture he aims to instill at Manchester United. As the club looks ahead to the upcoming season, Sancho’s future remains uncertain, overshadowed by this ongoing saga with the manager.
