Manchester United has firmly stood behind Erik ten Hag’s recent remarks regarding Jadon Sancho in the wake of their 3-1 loss to Arsenal. Sancho, who expressed his frustration on social media following the game, now faces potential disciplinary action.

Ten Hag’s initial comments, in which he cited Sancho’s training performance as the reason for his absence from the matchday squad, prompted a swift response from the 23-year-old, who took to Twitter, labeling himself a “scapegoat.”

The club and Ten Hag have refrained from issuing a public statement in response to Sancho’s post. However, both the manager and the player are expected to engage in discussions over the next few days to address the issue. Follow your favourite Premier League team with attractive football betting odds from Nextbet. 

For several weeks now, Ten Hag has been dissatisfied with Sancho’s training performances. This dissatisfaction culminated in the surprising decision to place academy prospects Hannibal Mejbri (20) and Dan Gore (18) on the substitutes’ bench ahead of the established winger during the recent match.

It’s worth noting that Ten Hag previously granted Sancho a break from the first-team squad between October and February last season to address both physical and mental concerns. During this period, United’s manager arranged for specialized coaches in the Netherlands to assist Sancho in getting back on track.

Sancho, despite scoring upon his return to the Premier League in February, struggled to find consistent form, netting only three goals in 25 appearances thereafter. Moreover, he has yet to start a game in the current season. Since joining Manchester United from Borussia Dortmund for £73 million in July 2021, Sancho’s record stands at 12 goals in 82 appearances, and he has not represented England since October 2021.

Erik ten Hag has built a reputation for being a disciplinarian during his tenure at Old Trafford. Last year, he terminated Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract following an explosive interview in which the Portuguese forward expressed feeling “betrayed.” This summer, he stripped Harry Maguire of the captaincy and released David de Gea, the club’s longest-serving player. In December, he benched Marcus Rashford for a game at Wolves after the forward arrived late for a team meeting.

In the case of Sancho, Ten Hag believes the player has received ample support to excel at Old Trafford but has not displayed an acceptable attitude in training. This stance contrasts with Sancho’s claims on Sunday, where he hinted at other undisclosed reasons for the ongoing matter. Get the latest updates from the Premier League only on Nextbet Sports.