Man Utd winger Jadon Sancho was given time away from the club this season and Erik ten Hag has explained why he made that decision.
Erik ten Hag has been praised for the way he’s handled Jadon Sancho’s issues this season
Erik ten Hag insists his decision to grant Jadon Sancho some time away from Manchester United this season wasn’t a risk.
The United manager allowed Sancho time away to sort out “physical and mental” issues, including a spell working with coaches familiar to Ten Hag in the Netherlands.
Sancho has returned to action in fine form, scoring as a substitute against Leeds on Wednesday, and it’s been noticeable he has been playing with a smile on his face.
Ten Hag has been widely praised for his man management of Sancho, but the decision did leave him short of attacking options. The winger missed United’s training camp in Spain in December and was then absent from the squad for the first 11 matches after the season resumed after the World Cup.
But Ten Hag did not see the decision to allow Sancho time away from the club during the season as a risk, insisting: “I don’t gamble. If you want to gamble you go to the casino and you can’t do that as a football manager.”
The 22-year-old has looked refreshed and rejuvenated since his return from the club. He has played half an hour in the Old Trafford games against Nottingham Forest and Leeds and his relationship with supporters has blossomed during those matches.
Ten Hag admits it’s impossible to say the issues are behind Sancho for good, however, but as hard as he pushed his players, he will also be there for them if they have problems to sort out.
“It’s a personal thing and you don’t know in any head what is going on and I think you have to respect that,” said Ten Hag. “I support every player, I back every player where I can and I want to ensure that we have a good team spirit; ensure and encourage and motivate all the players to give their best.
“So I will push them and I will be there, and my coaches as well, if they have problems and we will help them to sort them out.”
The careful and considerate way Ten Hag has handled the situation is another example of his clever man-management and he’s been at the heart of a transformation in team spirit at the club.
He focused on signing characters who would aid that in the summer and has regularly raised the issue in his media appearances this season, with players insisting the dressing room is now as close as it’s been in a long time.
A key date in building that togetherness came in August, when Ten Hag instructed his players to run 13.7kms in 30-degree heat the day after they had lost to Brentford.
That was the collective distance by which they were outrun on the day, but Ten Hag didn’t just tell his players to do the run, he joined in himself, earning plenty of respect in the process.
“We are together. We win together and we lose together. So I’m in the boat as well, as my coaches are. We are together with the dressing room, with the players, we are in there,” he said.
“I think we have quality in the dressing room with the players, with the coaching staff and we have to get results because we get paid for that. We have to take that responsibility. Every day, every match, we have to prove that; prove that to the club and to our fans. That’s our responsibility.”
Ten Hag completed the run that day despite being 52 at the time and admits it was a big undertaking, but the fitness and energy levels of his players have improved during the season and he can’t match them now.
“Yes it is [a big task] but if it has to be, then we do it. It doesn’t matter what age (you are) … but be sure I can’t run any more what they bring on the pitch!,” he said.
source:manchestereveningnews
