ERIK TEN HAG has broken his silence after banishing Jadon Sancho from first-team training.
The Dutchman has exiled the Manchester United winger after he publicly hit back at him on social media.
Sancho, 23, took exception to his manager’s claims that he trained inadequately ahead of United’s 3-1 defeat to Arsenal earlier this month and tweeted a scathing statement.
The former Borussia Dortmund man held showdown talks with his gaffer earlier this week but reportedly “REFUSED” to apologise for his actions.
That prompted Ten Hag to put his foot down and isolate the England international from the rest of his team-mates, a decision he took after promising to be a “strict” disciplinarian when he took the job last summer.
He revealed: “Strict lines is what the club asked from me because there was no good culture before last season so it was to set good standards.
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“That is what I did and it is my job to control the standards.
“It is never someone makes one mistake, it is a whole process before you come to a certain outcome about strict lines.
“There is a structure, to cross lines so you have to be strong.”
He added: “If staff, players or whoever cross lines you have to be strong, absolutely.”
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Ten Hag, 53, refused to be drawn on the ins and outs of the decision to banish Sancho.
When pressed further, he said: “I think everything is said.
“The squad is strong, in good spirits and a good mood going into the game [against Brighton].”
Sancho drew the ire of the former Ajax boss by claiming his daming statement on his efforts in training were “completely untrue”.
His since-deleted post read: “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.
“I will continue to fight for this badge no matter what!”
Sancho was the subject of a shock loan swoop from Al Ettifaq before the closure of the Saudi Pro League transfer window last week.
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But the club – who are managed by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard – were put off by United’s insistence on a £50million obligation to buy clause.
United welcome high-flying Brighton to Old Trafford tomorrow afternoon.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
