“No” – Erik ten Hag gives blunt reply to key Jadon Sancho question

Manchester United were back in action on Tuesday evening as Erik ten Hag’s men defeated Vincent Kompany’s Burnley 2-0 in the EFL Cup.

The result has seen Manchester United progress to the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup, with the trophy a certain target for Erik ten Hag as he looks to pull the Red Devils from their 5-and-a-half year trophy drought.

Speaking after the fixture, Ten Hag detailed to Sky Sports that he was happy with the performance and result.

“We had a lot of high-ball reclaims, we had a lot of transition moments, I think we have to take more benefit from that,” he said. “Definitely, there is room for improvement, but of course I’m pleased for the win.”

Read More: Manchester United player ratings as Rashford sinks Burnley in the EFL Cup.

The two goals, scored by Christian Eriksen and Marcus Rashford respectively, showed the two distinct sides to Manchester United’s game currently – the first was a great team goal involving multiple players, with the second a pure piece of individual brilliance from Rashford, driving from behind the halfway line to finish.

When asked on the first goal and how he felt about the performances of the returning World Cup players, Ten Hag replied: “They are quite hungry, it was great to see it was a team goal, but the way we finish with Bruno (Fernandes), on the far side coming in with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, for the goal Christian Eriksen, finish (was) good – a really good goal.”

When pressed for comment about Rashford, who played his game on the right wing against Burnley, the Dutch manager was full of praise.

“Yeah, great,” he said. “I think he (Rashford) was a constant threat playing on the back line, at the back four for them, and he is so dangerous with his dribbles, with his pace, with his movement, with out ball passing him the ball. He runs so much, so much attempts, and once he got his benefit (goal).”

One winger who has not seen such light in recent months is summer 2020 signing Jadon Sancho. Brought in for £75 million from Borussia Dortmund, Sancho is yet to his the consistent highs that so many know he can reach, and Erik ten Hag has instructed Sancho to go to an individual training camp in the Netherlands.

The young winger, after a good start under Ten Hag, has struggled for form, with some reports alluding to the player facing mental issues, and Sancho has been in camp with coaches that Ten Hag knows well, showing the manger’s want for Sancho to get the help he needs in order to return to the side physical and mentally fit and ready to go.

When asked on if he had an update on when fans could expect to see Sancho back in the United squad, his answer was blunt – “No.”

Whether it takes a week or another month, what is best for Jadon Sancho is that he takes his time to recover and rediscover his sparkling best, as at just 22 years of age, the best years of his career are still ahead of him.