Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag emphasised that winger Jadon Sancho holds the key to resurrecting his career at Old Trafford by adhering to the standards set by the Dutchman.
Since being sidelined by Ten Hag in September, Sancho, acquired for £73 million ($92 million) from Borussia Dortmund in 2021, has been in isolation. The 23-year-old was instructed to train independently after expressing on social media that he felt unfairly targeted by his manager.
While a January move seems plausible, it poses challenges for United, including the potential for a substantial loss on the transfer fee and the prospect of subsidising Sancho's reported £350,000-a-week wages. Despite the setbacks, Ten Hag stressed that the door remains open for Sancho if he is willing to align with the cultural standards set by the former Ajax boss.
"It is about a culture, and every player has to match certain standards, and it was about that," explained Ten Hag. "What will happen there? He knows what he has to do. If he wants to return, it is up to him."
Sancho, with 12 goals in 82 appearances for United, has been absent, providing opportunities for players like Alejandro Garnacho to feature more prominently. Garnacho played a crucial role in Wednesday's 2-1 victory over Chelsea, setting up the winning goal for Scott McTominay.
Ten Hag acknowledged Garnacho's potential, emphasising the importance of both defensive contributions and attacking prowess for offensive players. He expressed satisfaction with Garnacho's current performance and contribution to the team, highlighting the youngster's key actions such as assists, counter-attacks, and goal-scoring.
