Jadon Sancho has expressed feeling like a “scapegoat for a long time” after Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag cited poor training performance as the reason for his omission from Sunday’s game against Arsenal, which United ultimately lost 3-1.
The English forward did not make the trip to Emirates Stadium for the match. Ten Hag stated that Sancho had not met the required “level” for selection.
In response to the situation, Sancho took to social media and urged people not to believe everything they read. He asserted, “I will not allow people to say things that are completely untrue. I have conducted myself very well in training 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!”
Sancho, 23, joined Manchester United from Borussia Dortmund for a fee of £73 million in 2021. However, he has faced challenges in maintaining consistent form, amassing nine league goals and providing six assists in 58 appearances.
Ten Hag elaborated on his decision to exclude Sancho from the squad for the Arsenal game, explaining, “Jadon, based on his performances in training, was not selected. At Manchester United, you have to meet a certain level every day, and we can make choices in the front line. So, for this game, he was not selected.”
Despite the setback, Sancho affirmed his determination to compete for his place at the club, stating, “All I want to do is play football with a smile on my face and contribute to my team. I respect all decisions made by the coaching staff, and I’m grateful to play alongside fantastic players. I know that every week is a challenge, and I will continue to fight for this badge no matter what.”
In February, Ten Hag expressed his pride in Sancho’s return to form after the winger battled physical and mental challenges for three months. At one point, Ten Hag had indicated that the England international was not in suitable condition to play. However, Sancho made a goalscoring comeback in the Premier League, contributing to a comeback against Leeds with a crucial equalizer in a 2-2 draw.
