Jadon Sancho’s Struggles at Manchester United
Jadon Sancho has opened up about the difficulties he faced in making an impact at Manchester United, attributing his struggles to two primary reasons. The England international arrived at Old Trafford nearly three years ago with high expectations after an impressive stint at Borussia Dortmund. However, he found it challenging to meet these expectations under various managers at United.
Sancho’s situation worsened at the start of the current season when he was excluded from the squad for a match against Arsenal in September. United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, publicly criticized Sancho for his lack of effort in training. In response, Sancho criticized ten Hag on social media platform X and was subsequently removed from the first team for refusing to apologize.
A Fresh Start at Dortmund
A loan move back to Dortmund has revitalized Sancho’s career, leading to a significant turnaround. He now hopes to cap off this revival with a win in the Champions League final against Real Madrid at Wembley. Jadon Sancho’s rejuvenation was evident in his performance during Dortmund’s semi-final first leg victory over PSG, where he achieved 11 successful take-ons, a feat unmatched in the Champions League since Lionel Messi in 2008.
Differences in Coaching Styles
Speaking to CNN, Jadon Sancho highlighted the importance of having a manager who trusts his ability to roam freely on the pitch, a style embraced by his current boss, Edin Terzic, at Dortmund. Sancho stated, “It’s definitely important for me to have a manager who has that trust in me that I can go anywhere on the pitch to pick up the ball.” This contrasts with his experience at United, where he felt restricted under ten Hag’s coaching approach.
Overcoming Personal Challenges
Sancho also revealed that his shy nature and difficulty in making new friends contributed to his struggles at Manchester United. He emphasized the importance of trust, which he found lacking at United but abundant at Dortmund. Sancho explained, “I’m a type of person that I don’t like making new friends. I’ve got a big thing on trust – it’s hard for me to trust people.”
The Apology Controversy
Sancho’s refusal to apologize to Erik ten Hag was a major factor in his fallout with the United manager. Former United coach Benni McCarthy shed light on the situation, explaining that Sancho felt that apologizing would mean admitting to the accusations of laziness and poor training habits. McCarthy said, “Jadon feels that if he apologizes, then he’s going to be classed as someone who doesn’t train hard, that doesn’t work hard and that everything that was said against him was true.”
Future Prospects
While Sancho’s immediate future looks bright at Dortmund, his long-term prospects remain uncertain. An exit from United seems likely if ten Hag continues as manager and Sancho remains firm in his decision not to apologize. For now, Sancho is focused on his resurgence with Dortmund and the upcoming Champions League final.
