Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag and England boss Gareth Southgate both have similar concerns over Jadon Sancho, whose future at Old Trafford is now seemingly unclear
Video Loading
Video Unavailable
Football Digest: Arsenal defeat Man Utd 3-1
Jadon Sancho’s time-keeping has been flagged as a concern by both Manchester United and England as the fall-out from the winger’s public swipe at Erik ten Hag continues.
Sancho, 23, was left out of the United squad that lost 3-1 at Arsenal on Sunday, with Ten Hag claiming that the former Borussia Dortmund ace did not feature due to poor performances in training.
The Dutchman’s comments led to an instant response from Sancho on social media, with a statement reading: “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. I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won’t go into, I have 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 respect all decisions that are made by the coaching staff, I play with fantastic players and grateful to do so which I know every week is a challenge. I will continue to fight for this badge no matter what!”
The Mail are now claiming that Sancho’s time-keeping issues are a concern for both club and country; a problem that has plagued him throughout his fledgling career.
The report outlines how Gareth Southgate has also had concerns over Sancho’s attitude in the past, with reference to an incident back in Euro 2020 where the winger reacted ‘petulantly’ after being omitted from the squad which faced Croatia in England’s opening group game.
Join the debate! Do you think there’s any way back for Sancho at Man Utd? _****_Let us know here.
Both Erik ten Hag and Gareth Southgate have concerns over Jadon Sancho (
Image:
John Patrick Fletcher/Action Plus/REX/Shutterstock)
Sancho was only selected on the bench at that tournament for five other games due to grievances over his training performances - the exact issue which Ten Hag alluded to on Sunday. He has also been late for team meetings on more than one occasion with England at both senior and U19 level.
Furthermore, the forward was punished on several occasions during his time in Germany with Dortmund for his time-keeping and was even dropped for high-profile games by ex-manager Lucien Favre.
Speculation over Sancho’s long-term future at Old Trafford have been rife in the wake of his response to Ten Hag over the weekend, with some reports suggesting that the club would now be open to selling him. Cristiano Ronaldo was moved out of the club after publicly criticising Ten Hag late last year.
Get the United home shirt for 23/34
United’s Adidas home shirt is made up of the same colour of the city’s iconic red rose and features a black collar. The collar also features a dash of both red and white, giving it a slick and modernised look.
Prices start from £55
Kitbag
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand believes that Sancho may have to consider a transfer to Saudi Arabia or risk being frozen out in the wake of his comments. The Saudi transfer window is one of the few in the world which remains open.
Speaking on his FIVE YouTube channel, Ferdinand said: “There’s no way Jadon is putting out a statement like that if he hasn’t in his own eyes performed well.
“That’s the difference as well. On his chart, Jadon [might think] - ‘I’ve trained alright’, but the manager might have a different standard. There’s two ways this ends. There’s only one window open now and that’s Saudi. Or you’re on the bench or not getting in the squad for the rest of the season.”
Join our new WhatsApp community! Clickthis link to receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
