Erik ten Hag tells Jadon Sancho that it is up to him if he wants to return to Man United’s first team… as he insists the door is still open for the exiled £275,000-a-week star
- Jadon Sancho has been banned from Man United's first team since September
- Erik ten Hag insisted that the door is still open for the 23-year-old winger's return
- There's a lot of anger at Man United – it's them against the world! Listen to It all starts
Erik ten Hag has told Jadon Sancho that it is up to the player whether he wants to save his career at Manchester United by apologizing for the consequences.
Sancho looks almost certain to leave Old Trafford when the transfer window reopens in January, if United can find a club willing to buy the exiled star or loan him out for the rest of the season.
The 23-year-old winger has not played for three-and-a-half months since essentially calling Ten Hag a liar over his reasons for leaving Sancho out of the defeat at Arsenal in September.
He trained on his own at Carrington on full wages after refusing to say sorry to Ten Hag, costing United around £4 million in wages under the terms of his £275,000-a-week contract.
There was interest from Juventus and the Saudi League, while his former club Borussia Dortmund were linked with a swap deal for Donyell Malen.
Erik ten Hag told Jadon Sancho that it is up to him whether he wants to return to Man United's first team
Sancho has been banished to United since a public row with Ten Hag in September
But Ten Hag indicated on Friday that there is still time for Sancho to stay at United if he is willing to fall in line.
“It's about a culture and every player has to meet certain standards and that's what it was about,” said the United boss, who claimed in an interview this week that he had no regrets about his handling of the controversy.
'What's going to happen there, he knows what he has to do if he wants to go back. It's up to him.' When asked whether he thought the money spent on the player's wages was a waste, Ten Hag replied: 'I think that is an internal matter. We'll see what will happen.'
Former United midfielder Nemanja Matic confirmed this week that Sancho and Paul Pogba were the worst offenders when it came to being late to training.
Ten Hag has tried to create a more disciplined culture at the club and took a hard line with Alejandro Garnacho over his timekeeping last year.
Ten Hag insisted Sancho should apologise, but admitted there is a way back for him if he does
He also discussed the hard line he took with Alejandro Garnacho last year regarding his timekeeping
“I was aware that there were some problems,” the Dutchman added. 'But these are young players who have to learn what it takes, the lifestyle of a professional footballer. But now he knows.'
More recently, Ten Hag have had a tough time with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, dropping them for Wednesday's win over Chelsea following their abject performance in the defeat to Newcastle last weekend.
Rashford missed training on Friday due to illness and is doubtful for Bournemouth's visit to Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Ten Hag says United will look at one-year contract extensions for Martial, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof and Hannibal Mejbri, but will need Tottenham to agree to Sergio Reguilon at Old Trafford for the rest of the season is loaned out.
