MANCHESTER UNITED
Erik ten Hag gives Jadon Sancho update after ‘false nine’ experiment
The Manchester United boss has utilised Sancho as a central striker during preseason and insisted that the Englishman has a future at Old Trafford.
Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has insisted that Jadon Sancho is still a part of his plans but needs to make “a huge contribution” with his performances next season.
Sancho arrived at Old Trafford two years ago for a fee of £73 million ($94m) but has failed to replicate his performances in Germany. While playing for Borussia Dortmund Sancho was singled out as one of the most exciting young forwards in Europe and was tipped for a career at the top.
During two years with United Sancho has struggled to find his Dortmund form but Ten Hag is confident that the 23-year-old can reach those heights again.
“He has the skills, so also for him it’s the same,” Ten Hag told The Athletic. “He has to show consistently that he can make a huge contribution.”
“When you are a front player, that end-product is the key. So make sure you are making the key actions, the final pass, and get your goals in, because that’s why he is here.”
In the Bundesliga Sancho built a reputation as a goalscoring wide forward, notching 36 goals across his final two seasons with Dortmund. However in two seasons in Manchester he has managed just 12.
United experiment with Sancho as a ‘false nine’
Earlier this summer Ten Hag claimed that Sancho is at his best in central areas with greater involvement in the play. The United boss has experimented with using Sancho in a central ‘false nine’ role, allowing him the freedom to drift across the frontline and influence the team’s build-up.
However with Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund reportedly arriving from Atalanta it seems like Sancho’s opportunities to play more centrally will be limited. Ten Hag insisted that, regardless of where he plays, Sancho looks fit and ready to play a more influential role in the 2023/24 season.
“In this moment he is in a very good vibe. He decides how he is, how his mood and vibe is,” Ten Hag said.
“He has a lot of energy, we have all seen that from the moment he came back. He wants to enjoy football and be successful.”
Manchester United have two more preseason fixtures remaining, against Lens and Athletic Club Bilbao in early August. After that they begin their Premier League campaign with a home fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday, 14 August.