Jadon Sancho has perfect chance to prove Erik ten Hag 'gamble' call on Man United future right
Erik ten Hag was clear on his approach to letting Jadon Sancho have some time away from Manchester United earlier this season.
This was no gamble but a clearly well-thought-through move to give a player who had not been consistently showing the talent which he clearly possesses for United a chance to work on himself. Before you can help anyone else in life, you have to look after yourself.
That is precisely what Ten Hag let Sancho do earlier this season. Away from the intense scrutiny all those at Old Trafford have to put up with owing to the pressures for success, the winger had time to work on himself.
READ MORE: Ten Hag explains Jadon Sancho chat
Ten Hag gave the England international time away to sort out 'physical and mental' issues. This included a spell working with coaches familiar to Ten Hag in the Netherlands.
The United boss was crystal clear when asked about the decision to let Sancho away from the club temporarily. He said: "I don’t gamble. If you want to gamble you go to the casino and you can’t do that as a football manager.
"It’s a personal thing and you don’t know in any head what is going on and I think you have to respect that. I support every player, I back every player where I can and I want to ensure that we have a good team spirit; ensure and encourage and motivate all the players to give their best.
"So I will push them and I will be there, and my coaches as well, if they have problems and we will help them to sort them out."
Question marks have been raised over Sancho's long-term future at United after not hitting the heights expected of him after his £73m move from Borussia Dortmund in the summer 2021. It seems illogical to think of jettisoning him so soon, given United's protracted chase