In truth, the bond was already on the brink of collapse. Erik ten Hag’s dismissal at Manchester United has severed any lingering connections he had with Jadon Sancho before uncomfortable discussions could take place.
In just five games at Chelsea, he has matched his assist record under Ten Hag. Enzo Maresca has achieved this in a short span, extracting a level of performance from Sancho that was largely unseen at Old Trafford.
Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer didn’t witness Sancho score or assist in 14 matches prior to his departure. Michael Carrick briefly took over as interim head coach for three games, during which Sancho found the net twice, while Ralf Ragnick’s disastrous 14-match stint concluded with six contributions divided between goals and assists.
For Ten Hag, things simply didn’t click. Sancho was given ample opportunity, particularly early on, but a hiatus due to mental health issues saw him fall down the pecking order.
Upon Sancho’s return, it seemed like he had received sound advice. Two goals in three starts before a decline in form. The occasional glimmer of hope suggested a possible resurgence, but it wasn’t meant to be. Sancho, who wasn’t signed by Ten Hag and with other forwards being widely considered to rejuvenate the attack, fell out of favour.
Tensions rose both on and off the pitch as the authoritarian Ten Hag clashed with Sancho’s more relaxed attitude. When the two directly confronted each other, a £72million price tag echoed in the background.
Ten Hag and Sancho’s public spat has been a talking point at Manchester United, with neither party willing to back down. Sancho’s final appearance for the Red Devils was as a second-half substitute in a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory against Nottingham Forest over one year ago.
Just three months later, he was showcasing his talent at Borussia Dortmund, the kind of performances United had hoped to see on English soil. Ten Hag, renowned for his tactical acumen and European experience, was expected to be the catalyst for Sancho’s success. Instead, Sancho found himself battling Antony, an £84million flop, for a place in the team.
Despite Ten Hag’s preference for Antony, whom he knew from Ajax, the rewards were scant. If Sancho had stayed last season, Antony would have been fortunate to make his 29 league appearances. The friction between Ten Hag and Sancho, and their failure to bring out the best in each other, epitomises United’s struggles over the past decade.
With both figures now gone, likely for good, Sancho’s return to United seems highly improbable In truth, it already did. His one-season loan to Chelsea will net over £20million in transfer fees and could become permanent if certain achievable conditions are met, believed to be linked to league position – something Maresca’s side are unlikely to jeopardise after a strong start.
There’s a broader question that needs to be asked at United. What does it imply if Sancho is permitted to return despite Ten Hag’s departure? How does this reflect on the manager, his authority, the timing of disagreements, and the transfer of control under Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos? Furthermore, what would the incoming manager have to say?
Does Ruben Amorim, presumed to be the next Portuguese boss, have an opinion on Sancho? Is there a spot for him in the rigid three-man defence-focused team he almost always fields? United discovered too late that Sancho isn’t the player they anticipated on the right (mainly because he has always preferred to play on the left), so could Amorim accommodate him?
Gareth Southgate, who is admired by Ineos, would undoubtedly appreciate Sancho. However, the decision to make him available will be out of the hands of whoever takes over for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos. This now appears to be a moot point.
Unless there are significant changes, it won’t be Southgate, and regardless of how much the newly appointed head coach admires him, Sancho won’t be returning. His future is almost certainly at Chelsea.
If United want to try again, they’ll have to buy him back at some point (and why would he agree to this, even hypothetically?) The real challenge for United is to recover from the impact of Ten Hag’s last two seasons and to clear the lingering gloom that still haunts the club. Sancho symbolises something that Amorim must alter swiftly if he is to secure the job and thrive at Old Trafford.
It’s easier said than done, but severing ties with Ten Hag should signify a greater change for United if they are to climb back up the ranks. Chelsea are the beneficiaries as they bank a bargain forward and settle under their own new boss.
