Erik ten Hag did not even mention Jadon Sancho by name when he was asked about the player ahead of Manchester United’s clash with Brighton on Saturday.
The United manager publicly called out Sancho after he was left out of the squad for the Arsenal defeat, with Ten Hag criticising the player’s training performances.
Sancho wasted no time in hitting back at Ten Hag’s comments on social media, with the ex-Borussia Dortmund star claiming he had been a “scapegoat for a long time.”
United on Thursday revealed that the 23-year-old England winger had now been excluded from the first-team squad amid his high-profile fallout with Ten Hag.
“Jadon Sancho will remain on a personal training programme away from the first-team group, pending resolution of a squad discipline issue,” reads the club statement.
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Ten Hag asked for Sancho update
Sancho’s United future has been plunged into doubt after his callout of Ten Hag, who is reportedly demanding an apology from the Red Devils star.
Ten Hag has seen his winger options limited after Sancho’s expulsion and Antony delaying his United return “until further notice” due to the allegations against him.
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However, the former Ajax boss remains firm on his stance towards Sancho and didn’t even name the player when he was asked about him.
“I think everything has been said,” he said at his press conference on Friday (via The Daily Mirror).
“The squad is strong; the squad is in good spirits and in a good mood going into the game.
“You have some setbacks in seasons. Players are injured or unavoidable for other reasons.
“That’s why you construct a squad and the players who are available are very motivated to give a good performance.
“It’s my job to control the standards. If staff, players, whoever crosses lines, you have to be strong, obviously.”
United fans feel Sancho’s fate is sealed
United fans have flocked to social media and have suggested that Sancho’s career at the club is effectively over, especially with Ten Hag not using his name at his press conference.
“Ten Hag won’t even mention Sancho’s name… the dude is dead to him. LMAO,” one fan said.
Someone else tweeted: “Everyone was waiting to see what Ten Hag says about the Sancho situation but he didn’t even refer to him, let alone mention his name.”
While a third added: “By the looks of it, Sancho’s career is finished at United.”
And a fourth commented: “Sancho [is] so finished, damn.”
“This is the end of Sancho’s career at United,” a fifth simply posted.