Forgetting football, Victor Lindelof enjoys life with his beloved wife
Erik ten Hag reveals why Jadon Sancho and Donny van de Beek struggled at Manchester United
As Jadon Sancho is about to leave Old Trafford in the same boat as Donny van de Beek, Erik ten Hag thinks Manchester United need players who can handle the pressure and scrutiny of the club.
United only handed Van de Beek two starts in the Premier League and 21 minutes of first-team action this season before sending him on loan to Eintracht Frankfurt. The Dutchman managed Van de Beek at Ajax, when he was a part of a club that reached the Champions League semi-finals.
Also, United and Borussia Dortmund have reached an agreement in principle for Sancho to return to Dortmund on loan. Sancho was one of the most expensive players in United’s history.
It is easier to play for practically any club other than United, according to Ten Hag, who has seen how certain players have failed at Old Trafford and concluded that it is a matter of identifying footballers with the personality to survive.
Playing for Manchester United in the Premier League is difficult; in fact, playing for any team is easier than playing for Manchester United due to the constant high level of pressure. However, he did sаy that this was ultimately down to the players and their level of self-confidence.
“That is something you must address. This is the greatest club to play for and the greatest task to face if you believe in yourself, though. It varies from player to player, and more specifically from one player’s personality and character.
Although they worked together at Ajax, Ten Hag now says that Van de Beek, who he signed for £40 million in 2020, is a different player.
To start with, he’s been hurt quite a bit. In addition, he mentioned that they had worked together for two years at United, and that he had been under numerous managers here before that. Before this, he also had a loan. Actually, due to ιnjury, he wasn’t the same player at Ajax when I arrived to Manchester United.
He had a hard time getting back on his feet after that ιnjury, and he was unavailable for a long time as a result (Getty Images). That is likely the most important factor behind his absence from the game. We had planned a loan for him in the summer, but it never materialized. Since then, he has had little opportunity to contribute, as we often schedule meetings, negotiate contracts, and hire players for that role. A lot of people were trying to win.
Ten Hag anticipates Rasmus Hojlund’s comeback from his sickness that kept him out of United’s loss to Nottingham Forest when they go to Wigan on Sunday for the FA Cup.
However, he has cautioned that Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez may have to wait at least a few weeks before making a return to the first squad. The defender’s absence dates back to September, and the midfielder’s absence dates back to November 1st.
“They have been out on the grass for quite some time, and now they are getting back into team training, albeit not completely,” Ten Hag revealed. “They need to decide what to do next, which could take a few days—if not weeks.”