admin Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has struggled with a number of off-field issues that have been an unintentional distraction for the club and his results need to improve.
Erik ten Hag to be signed by Manchester United but off-field problems remain There are fears three players could end their careers at Old Trafford, suggests Chris Sutton.
Three key strikers have recently been left out of United’s starting lineup for various reasons – and these situations have not only weakened Ten Hag’s options on the pitch, but have also thrust him into the spotlight.
Sutton highlighted the issues surrounding Mason Greenwood’s loan move to Getafe, as well as the current absence of Antony and Jadon Sancho from United’s starting lineup. The former striker added that all three matters were beyond Ten Hag’s control.
United are lacking options at right-back with £86million striker Antony currently on holiday, while Jadon Sancho’s future remains uncertain after the England international undermined the United manager by casting doubt on the latest external signing training level expressed.
Sancho has dismissed manager Erik ten Hag’s claims on social media that he was left out of the squad during United’s 3-1 defeat to Arsenal due to poor training results. Sancho was excluded from first-team training by Ten Hag and sacked following United’s home defeat to Brighton on Saturday.
United announced last month that Greenwood would be leaving the club following an internal investigation. Although it was suggested that other English clubs were monitoring the striker’s situation, his transfer to Getafe was postponed until the final day of the deadline.
The pressure is building on United after three defeats in their opening five Premier League games saw them languish in 13th while the noise generated by off-field situations, including the ongoing uncertainty over the club’s ownership, have been unwelcome distractions.
Writing in The Mail, Sutton argued: “I feel for Ten Hag in a way. He couldn’t help the Mason Greenwood situation. He couldn’t help the Antony situation. I’m not even sure he can help that Jadon Sancho seems like a prima donna, because Ten Hag was only being honest about the player.
“When Mourinho was chucking everybody under the bus, he had lost the dressing room. It is not at that stage yet for Ten Hag. Bayern Munich on Wednesday will be tricky but United need to show a better version of themselves when they visit Burnley in the league on Saturday.”
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