Manchester United attacker Jadon Sancho is reportedly set to hold showdown talks with head coach Erik ten Hag after tensions between the pair came to a head at the weekend.
The former Borussia Dortmund man has struggled to reacclimatize to life back in England since his £73m move to Old Trafford in 2021 and is yet to start a Premier League game for the Red Devils this term.
Following appearances off the bench against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest, Sancho was left out of the squad entirely for the trip to Arsenal in game week four.
With Rasmus Hojlund and Anthony Martial available to Ten Hag through the middle, Marcus Rashford and Antony started out wide, while Hannibal Mejbri, Daniel Gore, Alejandro Garnacho and Facundo Pellistri warmed the bench.
Rashford managed to break the deadlock following a swift counter-attack, but Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice and Gabriel Jesus’s efforts propelled Arsenal to a thrilling 3-1 comeback victory, subjecting the Red Devils to their second away loss of the season.
When asked about Sancho’s absence after the game, Ten Hag revealed that the 23-year-old’s performances in training had left a lot to be desired, and he was therefore left out for tactical reasons.
However, Sancho hit back at his manager’s claims on social media and alleged that he has been made a “scapegoat” during his troubled two years in Manchester.
According to the Daily Mail, Ten Hag and Sancho will soon sit down to hold showdown talks in the wake of their recent war of words, as the coach attempts to clear the air with the England attacker.
The report adds that sources have also rejected the notion that Antony – who also worked under Ten Hag’s wing at Ajax – is being given preferential treatment despite a few underwhelming displays on the right-hand side.
Ten Hag is supposedly convinced that Sancho can put more effort into his practice sessions, and a separate report from The Guardian claims that the club are also on the Dutchman’s side.
It is alleged that Ten Hag has been dissatisfied with Sancho’s training performances for a number of weeks, and the winger is now facing the prospect of internal disciplinary action as well.
Sancho memorably spent a few months out of action over the winter in order to recover from physical and psychological problems, and Ten Hag appointed coaches for the 23-year-old to work with in the Netherlands.
However, the Dutchman does not feel that Sancho’s attitude at Carrington has been good enough since his return to first-team duty, and his long-term future at Old Trafford is now being called into question.
Sancho has managed just 12 goals and six assists in 82 matches for Man United, prior to which he had a direct hand in 114 goals from 137 games in a Dortmund jersey – 50 of his own and 64 assists.
The Englishman – who has not played for his nation since October 2021 – remains under contract at the Theatre of Dreams until 2026 with the option of an additional 12 months.
