Erik ten Hag is still the Manchester United manager as many wait to see the decison the club makes on his future.
It has been a rocky and drama-filled ride for the Dutchman. From winning two trophies to delivering Manchester United’s worst-ever finish in over three decades.
The FA Cup win over Manchester City over the weekend means that, if ten Hag does leave, then at least he has gone down fighting.
From booting out Cristiano Ronaldo, conceding seven at Anfield and having a public falling out with Jadon Sancho.
The Manchester United boss hasn’t been shy to make calls and do things his way and his way only, regardless of what people think.
In some cases, because of the team’s pretty poor performances and results on the pitch, it has gone against him.
What is also proving to go against ten Hag is the form and performance of Sancho after he departed the club in January and joined Borussia Dortmund on a loan deal until the end of the season.
The 24-year-old is now preparing for a Champions League final against Real Madrid, with Ally McCoist praising him for his ‘absolutely outstanding’ performances on the way to the Wembley showpiece on Saturday, as he told talkSPORT (29/05/24 7:55 am).
Despite that, both McCoist and Jeff Stelling agreed that he didn’t deserve to make Gareth Southgate’s training squad ahead of England’s preparations for Euro 2024.
Jadon Sancho not in the England squad ahead of Euro 2024
“No, I don’t think so,” on if Sancho expected to be in England’s Euro 2024 squad, said McCoist. “That’s coming from a man who has watched him put in a Man of a Match performance in Dortmund (against PSG). I thought he was absolutely outstanding at home.
“He looked like a player who was playing with freedom. He was enjoying himself. He was comfortable in his environment and I thought ‘good on you’. Smashing – that’s not to say he hasn’t had a resurgence and a new lease of life going back to Dortmund.”
Stelling added: “It’s not to say he won’t be back in the England set-up at some stage in the future. It’s right for him not to be in the 33. He had no chance of getting in the 26. Who would you leave out?”
Jadon Sancho’s future at Manchester United
Discussion then turned to Sancho’s future and what happens if he, for instance, has a very good Champions League final and Dortmund win.
Of course, a lot will also be dependant on ten Hag’s future at Old Trafford, with no one the wiser as to what will or won’t happen to the Dutchman.
Stelling feels, whatever the outcome, the £73 million star’s valuation has increased and he has become ‘more expensive’ as a result of his performances during these past few months.
McCoist added: “I would say with the way things are currently, the only chance of Sancho coming back to Manchester United is if there is a new manager in place. I think there is too much water under the bridge. People might disagree with me, but it would look weak if ten Hag brought him back.”
Stelling then claimed: “I tell you what though, his price is a lot more expensive than it was six months ago.”
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You feel the wise thing for Sancho to do, regardless of who is Manchester United’s manager next season is to stay in his current environment.
He was very successful at Dortmund in his first spell. That’s what got him a move to Old Trafford. And now he is showing those same signs.
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