Erik ten Hag has said that Jadon Sancho was omitted from the Manchester United team owing to insufficient training. He went on to say that the decision was taken because he wants players to be at a specific level to represent the club.
Sancho has appeared as a substitute in the first three Premier League games of the season. He was not chosen on the bench for the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday (September 3).
Ten Hag was questioned about the absence of the Englishman from the team. The Dutch manager astounded the reporter and Manchester United supporters when he said that the former Borussia Dortmund star did not workout adequately (according to United Zone):
He didn’t make the cut based on his training results. At Manchester United, you have to perform at a high level every day. on this game, he wasn’t picked since decisions must be made on the front line.
Sanche has played 76 minutes in the league this season but has yet to score.
After Manchester United's loss to Arsenal, Erik ten Hag was quite upset with the referees
Erik ten Hag believes Arsenal’s Kai Havertz should have been penalized for diving in the box. He also said that they should have received a penalty for the foul on rookie Rasmus Hojlund, but the referee and VAR denied them.
The Dutch manager went on to say that debutant Alejandro Garnacho was not in an offside position when the ball was played and that VAR made a mistake in determining whether he was ahead of the defender: According to Sky Sports (via BBC):
The penalty against Arsenal was disallowed, however Kai Havertz was not sent off the field.
The video review official missed the foul committed by (Rasmus) Hojlund within the penalty area. And Garnacho’s disallowed goal, which I believe to have been onside despite the incorrect angle, was a mystery. The second goal scored by Arsenal baffles me. Jonny Evans committed a flagrant foul.
He added:
I believe we were the better team, and we deserved to win, but sometimes you don’t get what you deserve. The improvement from the Wolves game to this one is what I focus on the most.
“We worked together tonight. I’m thrilled with how far we’ve come and how well this performance went. What we accomplished was successful. If we continue to improve, execute according to strategy, and maintain confidence, we will eventually be able to win games like this.
Manchester United’s players are currently on international assignment. They will return to training next week in preparation for their match against Brighton & Hove Albion on September 16.