A number of Manchester United players are enjoying their best-ever seasons under Erik ten Hag as the Dutchman has greatly improved several first-team stars.
The most obvious beneficiary of Ten Hag’s appointment has been Marcus Rashford – the 25-year-old is one goal away from reaching the 20-goal mark for the season after 18 challenging months.
Diogo Dalot is another player Ten Hag has influenced, with the former Porto star displacing Joao Cancelo as the first-choice right-back for Portugal.
After a tough first season, supporters were hoping that Jadon Sancho would be one of the players revitalised under Ten Hag but thus far, it hasn’t quite worked out.
Sancho was left out of the side for nearly three months and only recently made his return in the 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup – his first appearance for the club since October 2022.
With 18 months gone since his big-money move from Dortmund and very little progress made, Ten Hag has now showered Sancho with praise and insisted he will return to his best.
Ten Hag describes the young winger as a match-winner and seems to be confident that eventually, it will start to tick for the former Manchester City youth player.
“I think the best moment was how the fans embraced him,” Ten Hag told the official Manchester United website on Old Trafford’s welcome for Sancho when he made his comeback against Forest.
“That reception, it will beckon and it will motivate him to bring even more. The fans like his game and he is a brilliant football player.
“We are happy to have him back because he can contribute with his creativity, speed and intelligence. He can decide football games and that is also what we expect from him. He will do just that.”
SN’s verdict…
The rest of this season definitely feels like the most important period of Sancho’s career and it could seriously affect the rest of his spell at the club.
On the left-hand side, which is Sancho’s preferred position, Rashford is undroppable and if he signs a new long-term contract, that position will be locked down.
United recently broke the bank to sign Antony for the other flank and Alejandro Garnacho is rapidly climbing the ranks. It will not be easy for Sancho but on ability alone, he will fancy his chances.
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