From his tailoring to his tactics, Simon Jordan has barely missed a chance to aim a jab into the digs of Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag since his arrival in the Premier League back in 2022.
But, during his pre-Brighton press conference, not even the cantankerous former Crystal Palace chairman could disagree with the comment Erik ten Hag made with regards to the countless selection headaches he is bound to suffer over the next nine months.
Jadon Sancho’s absence last time out against Fulham was put down to an ear infection.
But, when given the opportunity, the Manchester United boss was coy to say the least when discussing the prospect of a return to the matchday roster for his perennially exit-linked £73 million man.
When quizzed on Sancho’s availability, Ten Hag insisted that, from now on, anyone ‘disappointed’ at failing to make the matchday 20 would simply ‘have to deal with it’.
Now this is the sort of cut-throat, ruthless decision-making a man like Simon Jordan appreciates, Ten Hag going up in his estimations.
Jadon Sancho can still leave Manchester United
“Very good. Very forthright,” Jordan tells talkSPORT (23 August, 10am). “Its not a discussion. Its not a democracy. This is what is required of you to be a Man United player.
“Get on with it and manage yourselves. You’re not going to be picked for every single game.
“(The manager should say) ‘I pick the team. This is what I expect from you. Like it or lump it’. Absolutely right.”
After last season’s trauma – Ten Hag looking increasingly like a man scrambling around for answers he did not have and issuing his fair share of strange quotes along the way – the 54-year-old appears emboldened by the faith placed in him by Ineos’ new structure.
“It seems to be a different Ten Hag that we are hearing now, doesn’t it?” agrees Martin Keown, the former Arsenal defener and the man at the centre of that Ruud van Nistelrooy flashpoint in 2003.
“(Ten Hag is) talking common sense. It will be survival of the fittest and it’s about personal relationship’s. How you keep people on board. It’s tough love.”
Erik ten Hag has serious competition for places these days
Despite putting their differences aside and despite Sancho’s eye-catching performances in pre-season, there is still a very real chance that the former Borussia Dortmund winger leaves Old Trafford at some point over the next week.
According to Gianluca di Marzio, Juventus want Sancho on loan with a £40 million purchase option.
“Ultimately, I think he will be sold by Man United,” adds Jordan, who spent ten years at the helm of Crystal Palace. “I think that die has been cast. In order to get rid of him, they had to bring him back into the fold to ensure they maximise the commercial opportunity of how much they can get for him.
“I don’t think he’s good enough for Man United anyway.”
Jordan is also under the impression that Ten Hag’s ‘deal with it’ warning was not solely aimed at Sancho.
With four impressive new arrivals, Manuel Ugarte on his way and several youngsters rising through the ranks, the likes of Antony, Hannibal Mejbri and Christian Eriksen may find their place in the matchday squad under threat should they stay at Old Trafford.
“I don’t think he is the target of that observation. I think he is one of the targets amongst all of the squad, not just Sancho,” adds Jordan.
Man United face Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday lunchtime.
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