Following a 3-1 Premier League defeat against Arsenal on Sunday, September 3, tensions have flared between Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho and club manager Erik ten Hag. Ten Hag expressed disappointment over the loss, singling out Sancho's fitness levels as below par for starting games.
"On his performance on training we didn't select him," Ten Hag said, when asked about Sancho's absence from the travelling squad.
"You have to reach the level every day at Manchester United. You can make choices in the front line, so in this game he wasn't selected," Ten Hag told Sky Sports after the match.
Sancho promptly took to social media to address the comments, suggesting he was being unfairly made a scapegoat for the team's performance. Posting on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, the 23-year-old expressed his frustrations over being omitted from the starting lineup, a decision that has raised eyebrows among fans and analysts alike.
"Please don't believe everything you read! I will not allow people saying things that is completely untrue. I have conducted myself in training very well this week," Sancho wrote.
"I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won't go 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.
"I play with fantastic players and grateful to do so," he said. "Which I know every week is a challenge. I will continue to fight for this badge no matter what!"
Despite playing 58 league games for the Red Devils since his 2021 transfer, Sancho reiterated his respect for the coaching staff's decisions, even as he publicly contested ten Hag's criticism.
This latest episode adds another layer of complexity to Manchester United's challenging season, as the team slipped to 11th place in the Premier League table. The incident underscores the growing tensions within the team, with the public disagreement likely to draw significant media scrutiny in the days to come.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
Lionel Messi's two assists lead Inter Miami to victory over LAFC, extending 11-game unbeaten streak
ENG vs NZ, 3rd T20I: Finn Allen, Glenn Phillips dominate as New Zealand strike back after two defeats
(Powered by AI)
