Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag believes Jadon Sancho can continue to add goals to his game after the winger's strike against Leicester City proved decisive on Thursday.
Two defeats to start the new Premier League season left United bottom of the table but they have since enjoyed an upwards trajectory with wins over Liverpool, Southampton and now Leicester.
Sancho scored a fine effort in the victory against Liverpool and added a cool first-half goal in Thursday’s 1-0 win over the Foxes, with Ten Hag hopeful more are to come after the forward’s difficult first season at United.
“I think he had quite a good pre-season,” the Dutchman said. “He understands now he has to invest in the physical [side] and that is what he did. Now he gets the reward and that is what he has to bring.
“I’m sure this is just the start for him. With his potential, there’s much more room for improvement.
“Then he can be even more important and contribute with his creativity, with scoring goals and assists, and also with the defending part he can be even more important.”
Asked if he believes Sancho can become a prolific goalscorer, Ten Hag said: “Yes, I think he can.
“He has the capabilities and he did it also in a different league, but this is the Premier League.
“The intensity is higher so he has to adapt to that, mentally, the physical [side]. The capabilities are there, the skills.”
Ten Hag named an unchanged side for a third straight match, meaning Cristiano Ronaldo started from the bench on a night when the transfer deadline passed without a much-discussed exit coming to pass.
Antony completed his big-money switch from Ajax on Thursday and the Brazil international will be pushing to be involved in Sunday’s clash against table-topping Arsenal at Old Trafford.
“Maybe that is too quick to say that [we have turned a corner],” Ten Hag said after United’s latest win. “We are happy with it, that is sure.”
While United end the window having strengthened in a number of areas, Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers is left picking up the pieces following a frustrating summer.
Wesley Fofana and Kasper Schmeichel departed after Ademola Lookman’s loan expired, with third-choice goalkeeper Alex Smithies and deadline-day signing Wout Faes all that came the other way.
Leicester v Man United ratings
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LEICESTER CITY RATINGS: Danny Ward – 6 A quiet evening for Kasper Schmeichel’s replacement. Left hideously exposed by his defence for Sancho’s opener. Fielded Eriksen’s speculative effort and was alert to clear Fernandes’s through-ball for Rashford, but had little else to do all evening. Distributed the ball very well. EPA -
James Justin – 6 Slow to react to the turnover for Sancho’s opener. Had to deal with a lot of energy down United’s left, hence Tielemans drifted across increasingly to lend him support. Made an important block from Sancho’s shot, but suffered a rush of blood in injury-time when he strode in on goal but smashed well off-target. EPA -
Jonny Evans – 7 Bossed Rashford in direct duels but had his attention split by covering for Elanga’s pace and Ndidi’s positional inexperience. Channelled his frustration into physicality before the break but was much calmer in the second period. Read the game well to snuff out United’s limited attacks, including a vital interception to deny Eriksen a late second. Reuters -
Wilfred Ndidi – 6 Battled gamely based on his limited experience in the heart of defence. Made a spate of headed clearances but was found wanting organisationally for the game’s key moment. Dealt well with Rashford but found himself asked more questions by Ronaldo’s movement. EPA -
Luke Thomas – 5 Gave as good as he got against Elanga in the early exchanges, but was caught out of position for the visitors’ opening goal and went into his shell thereafter. Needed to offer Barnes more attacking support. Getty -
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 6 Might have applied more pressure to United’s defenders in a passive opening half, but took more responsibility after the break and led Leicester’s improvement in their best period of the game. Wasted one promising counter with a dreadful wide pass to Barnes. EPA -
Youri Tielemans – 4 Seldom got close enough to United’s midfielders. Anonymous for long periods. Played a more withdrawn role after half-time, but generally found himself on the periphery of the game wherever he was situated. AP -
Boubakary Soumare – 5 Got the home fans up with a couple of robust challenges but wasn’t alert to Fernandes’s movement in the game’s opening goal. Put his stamp on proceedings more in the second period but was unable to provide thrust through the middle where it was most needed. AFP -
James Maddison – 6 Lively early on, closing down United where he could, but had an off-night with his distribution. Grew into the game in the second half and forced a decent save from De Gea with a trademark free-kick. Later wasted a set-piece from a more promising position and blazed over in injury-time. AFP -
Harvey Barnes – 6 Faced an on-song Dalot, drew an early booking from the Portuguese and should have asked more questions of his marker over the remainder of the game. Had De Gea briefly panicked with a 25-yard curler. Looked short on confidence. AP -
Jamie Vardy – 4 Struggled to have his usual impact against United. Isolated upfront and starved of a supply line, which gave him little chance against the visitors’ solid central pairing of Martinez and Varane. Booked for an overzealous late tackle on Malacia. Reuters -
SUBS: Kelechi Iheanacho (Youri Tielemans, 76) – N/A Came on for the final quarter-hour as Brendan Rodgers provided Vardy with much-needed support. Willing running almost translated into a spectacular late own-goal. Getty -
Patson Daka (Jamie Vardy, 87) – N/A Might have been introduced earlier when Leicester had more attacking impetus. As it was, had no time at all to impact. Getty -
MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea 7 - Best moment was a splendid save from a fine, curling, Maddison free-kick on 49 minutes. Another clean sheet another away win. And how he and his team needed both. EPA -
Diogo Dalot 8 - Playing his best football of his United career. Surged forward when needed. Pushed wide to the line and made himself available, often pinging the ball infield. Booked for pulling back Barnes but involved in the goal as he hit an early pass to Fernandes. Reuters -
Raphael Varane 9 - Playing his best football since joining United. Along with Martinez had Jamie Vardy under control. Perfect positioning throughout the match, reads the game so well and has players around him who complement him and allow the Frenchman to drop off. EPA -
Lisandro Martinez 8 - Already comfortable alongside Varane. Took a yellow card for the team after 49 minutes, pulling back the Dewsbury-Hall. Quick feet defending around the box. Covers for Malacia when he moves forward, giving United another man in midfield. EPA -
Tyrell Malacia 7 - He’s really good, this kid from Feyenoord. Blocked incoming free-kicks, great control when bringing the ball down. Licence to go as high and wide as he likes in Ten Hag’s system. Booked. Getty Images -
Scott McTominay 7 - Playing well enough to keep Casemiro and Fred out of the side. Quality in the first half, not to the same standard in the second. Reuters -
Christian Eriksen 6 - Won the ball in the build up to the opening goal. Took a shot himself a few minutes later. He tires in games, but he’s made a solid start to his United career. Reuters -
Antony Elanga 6 - Whether he’ll be starting so regularly when new signing Antony plays remains to be seen, but he’s featured heavily so far this season and done OK. EPA -
Bruno Fernandes 7 - Another who was very good in the first half; his movement was excellent when United went forward. Defended when needed. Looks so much more motivated than a few weeks back. Sublime ball to Rashford in a late United attack. EPA -
Jadon Sancho 7 - Another week, another goal to put his side ahead in the first half, finishing a beautiful move after he ran onto a Rashford ball and took it comfortably around Ward and into the net on 22 minutes. He’s only one short of his goal tally from last season, which shows how underwhelming he was. PA -
Marcus Rashford 6 - Came deep and hit a beautiful ball on the turn forward to Elanaga. Perfectly poised to tee up Sancho and put United ahead. Impressive first half but can still be sloppy. Cursed himself after missing an 81st minute chance. Getty Images -
SUBS: Casemiro 7 - On for Elanga after 58 and straight into moving the ball forwards to Eriksen. Reuters -
Cristiano Ronaldo 7 - On for Sancho after 68 to loud songs of appreciation from the 3,000 travelling fans. Heavily involved. Overhead kick went wide on 83 and hit a shot/cross wide after 84. PA -
Fred NA - On for Rashford after 86 charged with helping see out the win, which he did. Gave a foul away, because he’s Fred. Reuters
Leicester chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha explained their restricted transfer approach in his programme notes ahead of a game that ended with boos at the final whistle.
“I’m happy that the window’s shut, if I’m being honest,” Foxes boss Rodgers said. “I mean, there were huge distractions for this window.
“You’ll have read the programme notes and seen the situation that the club is in, so to have to watch virtually every single club in the top five leagues get players in and for us not to be able to improve, that was difficult, not just as a manager but for the players, because players want to compete.
“This group have shown that they can compete, but we needed (help) but unfortunately we haven’t been able to get that.
“So, in terms of the results, it’s my responsibility. I take that.
“We should have won by now. We’ve been in a couple of games and in really good positions, but we weren’t able to see it through, so I totally understand it.
“Supporters want to see the team win and if they’re not they’ll tell you.
“So, for us, we won’t hide behind the rock and go away. We’re ready to fight now but it’s going to be really, really important that the supporters really get behind the players.”
