Man United boss Ten Hag backs Sancho to ‘click’ after ‘mistake’

Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag has put his weight behind Jadon Sancho after a public fallout in the previous season between the two. Sancho played for the Red Devils for the first time since last August in a preseason friendly against Rangers on Saturday.

The youngster played for his former club Borussia Dortmund on loan in the last season and played a key role in taking the German club to the Champions League final. Sancho had criticised Ten Hag in his social media post.

“We spoke well,” Ten Hag told Dutch outlet AD Sportwereld before Saturday’s 2-0 friendly win. “Everyone can make a mistake. If the player reflects on this well, you draw a line and move on.

“This club needs good players, and one thing is certain: Jadon Sancho is a very good player. I hope that we will still click and that he will contribute to our success.”

On the other hand, Ten Hag will continue as United’s boss for the upcoming season after many speculations regarding his future at Old Trafford. The Dutchman had taken over from interim head coach Ralf Rangnick, who had said that United will need an open heart surgery to get back to their previous best.

“Rangnick was absolutely right,” Ten Hag added to AD Sportwereld. “We have been working very hard on this for two years, but he said it exactly right: it is a thorough, very complex operation. And I knew when I started that it was going to be a tough job.”

According to ESPN, United is interested in signing defenders Matthijs de Ligt of Bayern Munich and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite.

“I will not specifically comment on whether or not we attract those two names,” Ten Hag said in the interview. “It remains to be seen whether De Ligt will come. I know Matthijs well and I will not deny that.

“I wanted to sign him two years ago but at that time, he was already very far along to join Bayern Munich but believe it or not, his name did not come from me in the process.”