Erik ten Hag has subtly suggested that Jadon Sancho faces missing out again when Manchester United face Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday. And the Dutchman has warned those who don't make the cut in his matchday squads about their attitude, insisting he will need all his players throughout the season.
Sancho's role at United this term has been a prominent subject of conversation after surprisingly staying put due to a lack of sufficient interest.
The 24-year-old looks likely to remain at Old Trafford beyond the summer transfer deadline, but Ten Hag appears set to test his patience again following last season's public spat.
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Despite featuring regularly throughout pre-season, Sancho was excluded from United's squad in last Friday's Premier League opener against Fulham.
Ten Hag instead opted for Alejandro Garnacho, Joshua Zirkzee and Antony amongst his substitutes and named Amad and Marcus Rashford as his starting wingers.
It raised concerns of a repeat of the row that erupted last September when Sancho blasted Ten Hag's reasoning for leaving him out for a trip to Arsenal.
The United No. 25 was subsequently exiled from first-team training for four months after refusing to apologise and spent the second half of the 2023/24 season back at Borussia Dortmund on loan.
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He seemingly has plenty of work to do to regain Ten Hag's trust, with the Red Devils boss suggesting he may face disappointment again for the trip to the Amex Stadium.
"We will see. We have a squad. I hope we will have a squad with double positioning," Ten Hag explained during his press conference on Thursday.
"And when we go into the season after September 1, that means you can't select all the players but you need them all throughout the season."
The United boss also indirectly directed Sancho to maintain the correct attitude, further insisting that all of his players will receive their opportunities this term.
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He continued: "We have to manage it, the attitude of the players is very important, sometimes they will be disappointed they have to deal with it, you win as a squad.
"The prizes are decided next May, and until then, we need all the players in the squad and highly motivated. That is not an expectation, that is a demand on the squad."
United and Brighton started their Premier League campaigns with victories - 1-0 against Fulham at Old Trafford and a 3-0 triumph over Everton at Goodison Park, respectively.
