Jadon Sancho‘s form right now is a big concern for Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag. The former Borussia Dortmund winger started the season on a bright note but his recent attacking outcomes have been so poor, that Ten Hag has not hesitated in making him the first player to be substituted in any match.
A similar problem occurred against Chelsea, where Sancho’s lack of productivity was there to see for everyone. The gaffer made a tactical switch right away after halftime on Saturday at Stamford Bridge, which is uncommon for a manager to do.
When Fred took Jadon Sancho’s place, Bruno Fernandes was forced to move to the left wing. Ten Hag was so dissatisfied with Sancho’s performance that he believed a midfielder might fill the job more effectively.
Sancho has been terrible for weeks, and it was a second-half overhit pass that caused Ten Hag to hook him earlier than planned. The Dutchman then quickly turned to the bench to tell Fred to warm up. During his tenure, Ten Hag has not shied away from making significant choices, and hauling a player off just minutes after halftime was a sign of his dominance.
What will Sancho do next? It’s possible that he will start for Manchester United against FC Sheriff and West Ham, but it is most certainly not justified given that the 22-year-old has been starting every game this season because there isn’t a strong option on the bench.
Anthony Martial has been out for the duration of the season, Anthony Elanga is not good enough to start, and Alejandro Garnacho is raw potential. Marcus Rashford is best on the left flank, but Ten Hag has opted to put him as a striker due to a lack of options.
Sancho has been given unwarranted game starts, which may be the reason why he is one of the few club players who hasn’t developed since Ten Hag was hired.
Whatever the cause, the English winger’s lack of improvement in comparison to the rest of the team is alarming. The former Borussia Dortmund star struggled to make an impact against Manchester City and Omonia, and he was ultimately benched at Goodison Park after both matches. For Omonia’s home game, Sancho sat on the bench once more, but he started for Newcastle.
Only because Ten Hag preferred Rashford to play through the centre in place of Cristiano Ronaldo did Sancho start against Newcastle. If Ronaldo were 10 years younger, Rashford would start on the left, Antony would play on the right, and Ronaldo would start as a centre forward.
Sancho would then be forced to sit on the sidelines, which is what his performances call for. Despite claims that he is at risk of becoming a £73 million flop, some of his followers insist they already classified him as one. Given the United attacker’s current performance, it’s getting increasingly difficult to disagree with that verdict. He has performed poorly during games, comes out as incompetent in one-on-one situations, and is sluggish on the left side.
He’s not shown the will, ability, or speed necessary to outrun his full-back. The winger frequently finds himself in prime positions before passing or cutting back and crossing into the box, which is appreciated by the opposition as it allows them time to reorganise. Sancho’s frustration is difficult to witness, and Ten Hag experienced it at Stamford Bridge.
During his illustrious years with Borussia Dortmund, this player surprised the fans in Germany with his outstanding footwork. Yes, the Bundesliga allows players more time on the ball and room, but Sancho isn’t doing the fundamentals at United the way he did when playing there.
If you can produce 50 goals and 64 assists in 137 appearances for Dortmund, especially throughout some of your teenage years, you’re not a poor player, despite the history of the top money-making transfers from the Bundesliga to the Premier League.
In contrast, Sancho has 52 appearances for United and has eight goals and five assists. In his second season at Old Trafford, his performances have declined, he has ceased performing the things that made him the buzz of Europe, and he is now out of justifications. He joined United last summer at the age of 21 and was given time to get used to the Premier League’s expectations. It’s time for the winger to perform now that he has gained another year of experience and is playing under a tactically smart manager.
Sancho needs to improve because he is currently not up to par, in the opinion of Ten Hag. The 22-year-old should begin displaying his talent at Old Trafford even though he already has it.
