‘Issues all the way’ - Erik ten Hag levels rare dig at Jadon Sancho & his Man Utd career

Erik ten Hag admitted Jadon Sancho had ‘issues all the way through’ his time at Manchester United, even predating the Dutchman’s time at Old Trafford.

Sancho completed a loan move back to Borussia Dortmund on Thursday, ending his four-month isolation from first-team football. It’s unlikely that the winger will play any role at United while Ten Hag is manager, but he did register an assist in his first game back at Dortmund on Saturday, coming in a 3-0 win over Darmstadt.

But the ex-Ajax boss has been reluctant to speak on the matter over recent months and offered a blunt response in Friday’s pre-match press conference ahead of the Tottenham Hotspur clash. “I hope he's doing well, so I wish him the best of good luck,” was Ten Hag’s blunt response when asked about Sancho. “That's it. I hope he's doing well and he'll be a success.”

Pushed again on the matter, he frostily responded: “I replied, I think it's enough.”

But Ten Hag was more forthcoming when speaking to Sky Sports, and the 53-year-old aimed a rare criticism at Sancho, claiming he has not been a success since his arrival at Old Trafford in 2021.

“He's now at Dortmund. So after he was signed, one year before [I was here], and there were issues,” he said. “We have had issues all the way through, and so you can make out his stay at Manchester United so far is not a success. 

“So now he is going back to Borussia Dortmund, so I wish him the best of luck. I hope, we all hope he is doing well there, he will be successful. Again, we will see what is going to happen."

Asked if a public apology could have resulted in a different outcome, the United boss replied: “We have said that before. And I don't want every time to return to the point. He knows what he should do and we have made that clear. 

“It was also so clear and obvious about his performance so let's stop this discussion. He is to Dortmund and we wish him the best of luck.”