Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag swerved questions about Jadon Sancho's future on Friday but insisted his remit after being appointed was to change the culture at the club.
Sancho was involved in a public spat with his manager after Ten Hag told the media that the 23-year-old had been left out of the squad for the defeat at Arsenal before the international break because of “his performances in training”.
The winger, signed from Borussia Dortmund for £73 million in the summer of 2021, responded on social media by saying that he had been made a “scapegoat” by the Dutch coach, who is in his second season in charge at Old Trafford.
“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,” Sancho wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“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!”
United released a statement on Thursday stating that Sancho would be training away from the rest of the first-team squad “pending resolution of a squad discipline issue”.
On Friday, ahead of United's Premier League home game against Brighton, Ten Hag was asked to clarify the situation regarding the Sancho situation, the former Ajax coach skirted around the question.
“Sometimes you have setbacks with players being injured or unavailable for other reasons,” he said, without naming Sancho directly. “Our squad is very good and the players available are motivated.”
But when asked if he considered himself a strict manager, Ten Had said: “Strict lines is what the club asked me [to bring], because there was no good culture before last season. I had to set good standards.
“It is never someone makes one mistake, it is a whole process before you come to a certain outcome about strict lines. There is a structure to cross lines, staff or players, so you have to be strong.
Arsenal 3 Man United 1: Player ratings
-
ARSENAL RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale - 6: Clean sheets just aren’t a thing in this fixture. The Arsenal stopper was well-beaten by a ferocious Rashford strike that almost snapped his fingers back on its way in, but he later showed strong hands to deny Martial at his near post. AFP -
Ben White - 6: Gave Rashford too much room to jink inside and unleash a piledriver that crashed in off the post to open the scoring. Should have grabbed an assist at the other end, but Saka could only steer his precise pass straight at Onana. AP -
William Saliba - 7: A big second half for the reliable defender who showed excellent awareness to deny Rashford a near-certain second with a huge block, and he was in the right place again to scramble the ball away and deny Hojlund a dream debut. Action Images -
Gabriel - 5. Given a torrid time by the physicality of Hojlund following his introduction. Survived a major scare when he played Garnacho offside by the finest of margins as United looked for the sucker punch, only to be blown away themselves. EPA -
Oleksandr Zinchenko - 7: Whipped an inviting cross into a great area, which was scrambled away by Dalot with Saka ready to pounce. Always seemed to get a foot in and showed good intensity to win the ball back and atone for a stray pass. Action Images -
Martin Odegaard - 9: A busy afternoon for the skipper who was relentless in the press and led by example, not least when he thundered his side back on terms just 35 seconds after Rashford’s opener. A proper captain’s performance on a day that will go down in Gunners folklore. Action Images -
Declan Rice - 7: Deservedly serenaded with ‘Rice Rice baby’ by the home faithful after the tenacious midfielder squeezed a dramatic 96th-minute winner past Onana to take the roof off the Emirates and make himself a North London hero. AP -
Kai Havertz - 4. A disastrous start for the German who squandered the best chance he’ll get all season with an air shot from five yards and gave the ball straight to Eriksen who sent Rashford through to score. Denied a penalty by Anthony Taylor on second viewing. AFP -
Bukayo Saka - 6. His usual industrious self, but he found clear opportunities hard to come back in the first half and steered a tame effort straight at Onana from point-blank range after a passing masterclass from the men in red. AFP -
Eddie Nketiah - 8. Another impressive outing in what’s shaping to be a defining season for the 24-year-old. Linked up nicely with Martinelli and was often the key man in some tantalising build-up play. Deserved a goal for his efforts in a high-energy display. Getty -
Gabriel Martinelli - 8. Terrorised Wan-Bissaka with an electric performance on the left, which included a sumptuous flick around the corner before his low pass across the area was smashed home by Odegaard for the leveller. Curled a beauty inches wide in the 69th minute. AFP -
SUBS: Gabriel Jesus (on for Nketiah ‘76) - NR: More important minutes for the returning forward who showed ice-cool composure to floor Dalot before sliding the ball past Onana to unleash pandemonium at the Emirates. AP -
Takehiro Tomiyasu (on for Zinchenko ‘76) - NR: Provided some important fresh legs to help thwart the visitors' counter-attacking approach. AFP -
Fabio Vieira (on for Havertz ‘77) - NR: Played Jesus through the middle to seal an emphatic victory and cap 103 minutes of breathtaking brilliance. Action Images -
Reiss Nelson (on for Martinelli ‘90) - NR: A short but breathless cameo for the 23-year-old in the thick of a frantic finale. Reuters -
Jorginho (on for Odegaard 90+9) - NR. Reuters -
MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: Andre Onana – 6. Calm – even if the travelling fans to his right were not – as he passed the ball with confidence between Arsenal’s strikers to his defenders and midfielders. Got on his knee to block a Saka shot on 80 but two goals went past him in time added on. Strong on corners. Booked. Getty -
Aaron Wan Bissaka – 7. The full-back’s battle with the excellent Martinelli was the most engaging and relentless duel of the game which was scrappy in the first half and cagey in the second. He did well. VAR was also right in overturning a penalty given for contact with Havertz. Reuters -
Victor Lindelof – 6. Very busy as United defended deeply, but he was comfortable with it. Ten Hag felt his side were more compact this week, but it meant Arsenal had 17 shots, 25 crosses and 12 corners. Reuters -
Lisandro Martinez – 6. Running in circles for Arsenal’s first goal, but he blocked a 12th-minute attack and did the same with an Odegaard shot on 50. Niggle and edge with Havertz. Came off injured on 66. AP -
Diogo Dalot – 7. Up against Saka and another defender who performed well. Defended a Zinchenko cross on 42, then chested and volleyed another Arsenal attack away 10 minutes after half time. Bested by Jesus for one goal. AP -
Casemiro – 6. He’s getting into form and better with Eriksen near him. Controlled in a first half when there were numerous misplaced passes and turnovers in possession, but United’s form at Arsenal remains woeful. Getty -
Christian Eriksen – 6. Wondrous pass to set up Rashford for United’s goal as his team concentrated on catching Arsenal on the break – just 12 per cent of United’s passes ended in the final third of the pitch. Blocked two Arsenal efforts and held his game until the end. EPA -
Antony – 5. Controlled a couple of high balls well on the wing and wiggled his way forward, but United have now gone six league games in London without a win. AP -
Bruno Fernandes – 6. Much ground covered as he defended early and attacked late. Poor game management from United’s captain and manager. A draw at Arsenal would have been a positive result. Getty -
Marcus Rashford – 6. Scored three in two games against Arsenal last season and a superb opening goal, finishing an Eriksen pass from the left with United’s first touch inside the Arsenal penalty area. Looks more of a threat from the left. Followed up on a Martial shot on 53. Well martialled by Gabriel in another attack. Getty -
Anthony Martial – 5. A shot on 53 from a counter was United’s first attack of the second half but it went straight at Ramsdale. And that was about it. EPA -
SUBS: Rasmus Hojlund (Martial, 66) – 7. The 20-year-old Dane impressed on his debut after signing from Atalanta. Worked hard and put himself about far more than Martial. Ended up in a heap after his one run on goal was blocked by Gabriel. AP -
Manchester United's Harry Maguire applauds the fans following defeat in the Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium, London. Picture date: Sunday September 3, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story SOCCER Arsenal. Photo credit should read: John Walton/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. -
Jonny Evans (Lindelof, 83) – N/A. On for the injured Lindelof on 83 and his first United appearance since 2015. Watching him as Arsenal scored was not pleasant. Getty -
Alejandro Garnacho (Antony, 83) – N/A. Looked to have won the game when he went through, finished well and celebrated as the away fans went crazy. Then VAR ruled the goal out because he was offside. It was all downhill then for United. Getty
“It's always about team. The team is above everything else,” he added. “There are many different characters and you have to manage them. The team is always above anything else.”
Ten Hag has also leapt to the defence of defender Harry Maguire, who was on the end of abuse from Scotland fans during England's midweek friendly win.
Maguire, who could have left United in the summer, described it as “banter” but his mother came out in support of him on social media.
And Ten Hag added: “I have said many times, it is disrespectful, he doesn't deserve it, he is a great player, gives great performances. It's crazy but it's how it works and Harry has to block this by performances.
“It's unjustified when you see his career, it's a great career and it has a lot to come but he has to block it by good performances.”
Ten Hag revealed Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof are fit to face the Seagulls, but Luke Shaw, Mason Mount and Raphael Varane are still injured.
