Soccer

Jadon Sancho to train away from United’s first team until ‘discipline issue’ resolved

Forward claims Erik ten Hag did not tell the truth about exclusion from squad against Arsenal

Jadon Sancho was not in 20-player match-day squad for the defeat, which was the last game before the international break. Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty
Jadon Sancho was not in 20-player match-day squad for the defeat, which was the last game before the international break. Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty
Jamie Jackson
Thu Sept 14 2023 - 18:58

Jadon Sancho will train away from Manchester United’s first team until “the resolution of a squad discipline issue” following the forward’s claim that Erik ten Hag did not tell the truth about this exclusion from the squad for the 3-1 loss at Arsenal on September 3rd.

Sancho was not in the 20-player match-day squad for the defeat, which was the last game before the international break. Asked why afterwards, Ten Hag claimed Sancho had not trained to the requisite standard to make the trip to north London.

Sancho immediately disputed this on social media, saying Ten Hag’s explanation was “completely untrue”, subsequently pinning the post on X, formerly known as Twitter, at the top of his account until taking it down 10 days later.

[ Manchester United back Erik ten Hag as tensions build with Jadon Sancho ]

A club statement on Thursday said: “Jadon Sancho will remain on a personal training programme away from the first team group pending resolution of a squad discipline issue.”

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“Jadon, on his performances in training we did not select him,” the Dutchman said. “You have to reach a level every day at Manchester United and we can make choices in the front line. So for this game he was not selected.”

Sancho responded later that day with an explosive statement. He wrote: “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!”

United, who have claimed six points from their opening four Premier League games this season, return to action after the international break against Brighton on Saturday. The development means Sancho is almost certainly not available for the match. – Guardian