Amid the chaos and uncertainty of the deadline day and the excitement of the Europa League draw, Erik ten Hag prepares for English football’s biggest match.
Manchester United face Liverpool on September 1, reeling from the away loss to Brighton but now back to the comforts of Old Trafford.
Arne Slot is yet to lose in the two league games so this will be an opportunity for United to achieve two things simultaneously- puncture a rival’s momentum while getting their back.
Ahead of the game, Ten Hag spoke to the media and gave a major Jadon Sancho update.
Erik ten Hag on Jadon Sancho
The manager would have undoubtedly preferred to be asked about the game but such are the vagaries of deadline day that it was never going to be the key agenda.
Right off the bat, he was asked about the spectre looming over the club and the biggest talking point on deadline day- Jadon Sancho.
The Englishman has been linked to Juventus and Chelsea in a rapidly developing situation but no solution has been reached thus far.
Ten Hag, in his press conference, has given a major hint about where he sees Sancho at the end of the window amid heating links to Chelsea.
He said: “He is playing on squad and we are happy with him. We need a good squad, we need depth. We have to play many games until January. After the break we play every third day so we need options.”
Ten Hag then dropped a definitive, “As I know, yes”, when asked about if Sancho will stay at Old Trafford.
End of Sancho saga?
While Ten Hag’s words are as definitive as they can possibly get without actually confirming it, there won’t be many who take them at face value.
It is understandable that Ten Hag might call upon his services when the matches come thick and fast but Sancho himself is unlikely to be happy in that role.
He has been left out of two matchday squads, making his status in the current team clear. Even if Ten Hag says he expects him to stay, the club remains in talks over a potential transfer.
United were never going to go public and say they are looking to sell as that weakens the negotiating position.
It is why Sancho was reintegrated into the squad and why Ten Hag continues to insist he has a place here.
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