Erik ten Hag says Jadon Sancho was dropped for Man United’s 3-1 defeat at Arsenal due to ‘training performance’ – but winger insists that’s ‘completely untrue’ and claims he’s been made a ‘scapegoat’
DAILY MAIL
- Jadon Sancho was left out of the squad for Man United’s 3-1 loss to Arsenal
- Manager Erik ten Hag said he was dropped due to his ‘training performance’
- Jadon Sancho claims this is ‘untrue’ and that he’s been made a ‘scapegoat’
Man United winger Jadon Sancho has contradicted Erik ten Hag‘s claims that he was left out of the squad for Sunday’s clash with Arsenal due to ‘his training performance.’
The 23-year-old has struggled to establish himself at Old Trafford since arriving from Borussia Dortmund, scoring just 12 goals in over two seasons.
He had appeared off the bench in each of United’s previous three Premier League games this season before being left out of the squad on Sunday.
‘You have to reach a level every day at Manchester United and we can make choices. So for this game he wasn’t selected’, ten Hag said of Sancho before the game.
There have been previous attitude and fitness complaints against the England international, but Sancho has now strongly denied ten Hag’s comments.
👀 “McTominay is ill & Jadon wasn’t selected because of his training performance…”
Erik ten Hag explains why Jadon Sancho wasn’t involved for #MUFC v Arsenal pic.twitter.com/xyxnLTkeDh
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) September 3, 2023
In a post on social media, he said: ‘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’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 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!’
United were open to selling Sancho for the right price over the summer, but the winger stayed and looked a useful false nine during pre-season matches.
It remans to be seen whether he will be able to force his way back into the side after such a public falling out with the manager.
The off-pitch turmoil ends a day to forget for United that saw them enter the international break six points off Premier League leaders Man City.
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