Jadon Sancho is training away from Manchester United’s first team pending the resolution of a “squad discipline issue.” Erik ten Hag, the manager, wants Sancho to apologize after the winger claimed to have been made a “scapegoat.” Sancho’s frustrations at United predate Ten Hag’s arrival.
By Kaveh Solhekol and Melissa Reddy
Erik ten Hag is requesting Jadon Sancho to apologize for his social media post where he claimed to have been “made a scapegoat for a long time” before he can return to the Manchester United first team. United announced on Thursday that Sancho is currently on a “personal training program” as they resolve a “squad discipline issue”.
Ten Hag is standing firm and will not tolerate any challenge to his authority. He insists Sancho must apologize to both him and the club, or else he will not be allowed to play for United under his management.
Ten Hag does not have an issue with players privately approaching him to discuss his decisions, but he will not tolerate any public criticism or venting of frustrations directed at him or the club.
However, Sancho has refused to meet Ten Hag’s demands for an apology, believing he was justified in responding to the criticism that was shared with a global audience, which he felt questioned his professionalism.
Sources close to Sancho believe he has been treated unfairly, citing inconsistent implementation of rules at the club. They claim that certain players in the squad receive preferential treatment. However, United counter this by stating that Ten Hag’s application of football-related discipline has been consistent, as it has been applied to other players such as Marcus Rashford, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Alejandro Garnacho when they have breached rules or standards.
Sancho’s frustrations at United predate Ten Hag’s appointment. He was previously left out of the matchday squad for United’s game against Arsenal on Sunday, September 3, with Ten Hag explaining that the decision was due to poor training performances. Later that evening, Sancho took to social media to claim that he had been “a scapegoat for a long time” and vehemently denied Ten Hag’s claims. The post was deleted on Tuesday after being viewed more than 60 million times.
There is some sympathy for Sancho within the United camp, but his public confrontation with the manager is not condoned. John Murtough, the director of football, and Richard Arnold, the chief executive, have been brought in to mediate between Sancho and Ten Hag, with the club hoping for a swift resolution.
This is not the first time that Jadon Sancho has been excluded from United training under Ten Hag. Last season, he underwent an individual fitness program in the Netherlands, which caused him to miss playing for United between October 22 and February 1. However, he did return to feature in the Carabao Cup final victory over Newcastle and ended the season with seven goals and three assists.
Sancho’s current absence from the first-team training raises concerns about the lack of options on the right-wing position, especially with Antony delaying his return amid assault allegations. Although the Brazilian winger denies the claims, he has been placed on a leave of absence on full pay and is not suspended. Currently, Marcus Rashford, Garnacho, and Facundo Pellistri are the only recognized right-wing options alongside Rashford, who predominantly operates from the left and central positions.
Statements from Erik ten Hag and Jadon Sancho
“On his performance in training, we didn’t select him,” Ten Hag commented regarding Sancho’s absence from the squad against Arsenal. “You have to maintain a certain level every day at Manchester United. We have choices in the front line, so he wasn’t selected for this game.”
Responding to Ten Hag’s comments in a statement on X (formerly known as Twitter), Sancho said, “Please don’t believe everything you read!
“I will not allow people to say things that are completely untrue. I have conducted myself very well in training this week.
“I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won’t get into. I’ve been a scapegoat for a long time, which isn’t fair!
“All I want to do is play football with a smile on my face and contribute to my team.”
Some players think Sancho has been training well since the summer and should not be singled out for criticism, but no one believes he should have publicly confronted the manager.
John Murtough, the director of football, and Richard Arnold, the chief executive, have been involved in resolving the issue between the player and the manager, with the club hoping for a swift resolution.
This is not the first time that England international Sancho has been excluded from United training under Ten Hag. Last season, he underwent an individual fitness program in the Netherlands, which caused him to miss playing for United between October 22 and February 1. However, he did return to feature in the Carabao Cup final victory over Newcastle and ended the season with seven goals and three assists for United.
Sancho’s current absence from the first-team training raises concerns about the lack of options on the right-wing position, especially with Antony delaying his return amid assault allegations. Although the Brazilian winger denies the claims, he has been placed on a leave of absence on full pay and is not suspended. Currently, Marcus Rashford, Garnacho, and Facundo Pellistri are the only recognized right-wing options alongside Rashford, who predominantly operates from the left and central positions.
What Ten Hag and Sancho said about each other
“On his performance in training, we didn’t select him,” Ten Hag commented regarding Sancho’s absence from the squad against Arsenal. “You have to maintain a certain level every day at Manchester United. We have choices in the front line, so he wasn’t selected for this game.”
Responding to Ten Hag’s comments in a statement on X (formerly known as Twitter), Sancho said, “Please don’t believe everything you read!
“I will not allow people to say things that are completely untrue. I have conducted myself very well in training this week.
“I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won’t get into. I’ve been a scapegoat for a long time, which isn’t fair!
“All I want to do is play football with a smile on my face and contribute to my team.”
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