Erik ten Hag has refused to comment Jadon Sancho’s suspension from first team training.
In an awkward press conference ahead of their home clash with Brighton, the Dutchman was asked three questions about the winger, but batted them away.
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Ten Hag’s first response to a Sancho question was to discuss the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal in which the player didn’t make the matchday squad.
Then when asked again about the £73million man, he said: “I think everything is said. So the squad is strong, in good spirits and good mood going into the game.”
A third question relating to Sancho and Antony garnered the reply: “You have sometimes setbacks in seasons, players are injured or for other reasons are not available.
“So you construct a squad and the squad is very good and the players who are available and motivated to give a good performance.”
The focus on Sancho comes after a brief club statement informed that the 23-year-old won’t be training with the first team.
“Jadon Sancho will remain on a personal training programme away from the first-team group, pending resolution of a squad discipline issue,” a statement on Thursday read.
Sancho, who joined the club in 2021 from Borussia Dortmund, was left out of United’s squad against Arsenal on September 3, with Ten Hag explaining at the time: “Jadon, on his performance in training, was not selected.
“You have to reach a level at Manchester United every day and we can make choices in the front line. So for this game he was not selected.”
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Later, in a since deleted post on Twitter, Sancho wrote: “Please don’t believe everything you read! I will not allow people saying things that is completely untrue.
“I have conducted myself in training very well this week. I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won’t go into, I have been a scapegoat for a long time which isn’t fair!
“All I want to do is play football with a smile on my face and contribute to my team.
“I respect all decisions that are made by the coaching staff, I play with fantastic players and grateful to do so which I know every week is a challenge. I will continue to fight for this badge no matter what!”
The Athletic has since claimed that Sancho refused to apologise in face-to-face talks, something which the club hasn’t denied.
talkSPORT understands the talks haven’t gone as officials at Old Trafford had hoped or expected and now the Red Devils have confirmed he will train alone for the foreseeable future.
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