Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has not approved for Jadon Sancho to return to first team training.
Yet another club statement was issued by Manchester United this week, this time over winger Jadon Sancho.
Sancho was omitted from Manchester United’s squad against Arsenal, with Erik ten Hag blaming the midfielder’s application in training.
Sancho responded on Twitter, denying his manager’s comments, taking United fans back to the Ralf Rangnick era of dysfunction.
United’s statement says Sancho will not be available for selection this weekend and has been placed on a personal training programme, with fans fearing he has played his last game for the club, and The Athletic claim he has refused to apologise.
Erik ten Hag authority supported
In general this season, there has been a litany of pundits queuing up to criticise Erik ten Hag, such is the poisoned chalice of the role of Manchester United manager.
In this situation, Ten Hag’s authority has been backed, with ESPN pundit Don Hutchison believing there is simply no way Sancho could be immediately reintegrated into the Manchester Unitd team.
He wrote on X.com: “I wouldn’t feel sorry for the player (any player) the manager knows about time keeping/training attitudes/standards etc etc.
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“The Gaffa should always call the shots and set the standards. ALWAYS. Otherwise a dressing room could be anarchy. The team always comes 1st.”
United have other options
Manchester United fans have seen what happens when the manager loses authority and there is a fractured dressing room. This blighted the end of the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer era and the Ralf Rangnick reign, and many of the same players remain. It is important Erik ten Hag stays on top of it, with no exceptions.
Antony being out of the side due to legal matters should not change the situation.
United have alternatives, with Facundo Pellistri, while Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount could also play out on the right.
Turning to Sancho right now would be Ten Hag sacrificing his long-term beliefs for a short-term gain.