Manchester United boss Ten Hag says Sancho is staying at Old Trafford

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag expects Jadon Sancho to remain at Old Trafford despite reported interest from Chelsea.

The London club have been heavily linked with England international Sancho, as have Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain, after he was left out of the United squad for their opening two Premier League games of the season.

Sancho and Ten Hag had reportedly held clear-the-air discussions following their public spat last season that led to the winger joining Borussia Dortmund on loan, but the 24-year-old remains on the fringes.

Nevertheless, asked if he expected Sancho to stay, Ten Hag said: “As I know, yes.

“He is in our squad and we are happy with him. We need a good squad, we need depth. We have to play many games until January. After the break we play every third day so we need options.”

Scott McTominay is set to depart, however, with PSG midfielder Manuel Ugarte expected to replace him ahead of the window closing at 11pm tonight.

Ten Hag added: “I’m happy for Scott but [my feelings are] mixed because I would prefer not to lose him.

“He is Man United in every way.

“Unfortunately it is the rules. You have to do sales and then homegrown players bring more value.”

Facing Liverpool at Old Trafford 🔜#MUFC pic.twitter.com/2jeTwqW5uC

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 30, 2024

More injury frustration ahead of meeting with Slot

Ten Hag felt United were derailed by injuries last season and the new campaign has started in similarly frustrating fashion with Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount both ruled out of this Sunday’s crunch clash with Liverpool.

The weekend meeting with their old rivals will also see two Dutchmen come head-to-head with Ten Hag facing new Liverpool boss Arne Slot.

Ten Hag believes Slot has inherited a more settled team on Merseyside than the one he took over in 2022 but is relishing the chance to restore United among the Premier League’s superpowers.

He said: “That was one of the reasons I wanted to come here, to have this challenge.

“We had to build, we had to construct, we had to perform and to bring up a higher level. We did this, with transfers, but also by bringing academy players into the team.

“What you see now, we brought new players, but also many young players, and we are at the start of a life cycle. We are still in the transition phase. We have young players and we have to make a team for the future.

“At Liverpool it’s clear they are in a different phase of the life cycle.

“They have a team that is mature, players who have played for a long time together, and are very experienced. We are more mixed and have to build a new team.

“The players, the partnerships, the relationships in [the Liverpool] team are very clear. That is what he inherited, what is built over the past years.

“Some things are the same but I have also seen some things he has brought in.”

Ten Hag hits out at Shearer

United have made a mixed start to the new season, an opening night win over Fulham followed by a last-gasp 2-1 defeat at Brighton.

The game at the Amex Stadium saw Marcus Rashford come in for criticism from Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer for his inability to stay onside before his withdrawal after 65 minutes. 

Ten Hag gave Shearer’s opinion short shrift, labelling it “stupid”.

“Everyone gets criticism from you guys [the media], it doesn’t matter what we are doing, if we are winning or losing, if I take a player off,” he said.

“I was very happy with him, in pre-season, against Fulham, against Brighton. I didn’t take him off because his level was not right.

“We have good players on the bench and you have to bring new energy. There will be rotation.

“The conclusion is always that the player is not performing, but that was not the case. Stupid analysis in this case from the pundit.”