Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag not sure if Jadon Sancho is free of issues

Speaking to the media ahead of the Leeds United game (h/t Express), Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is not sure whether winger Jadon Sancho is free of all the problems that kept him out of football for so long.

Back in December, ten Hag revealed that Sancho is physically and mentally not ready to play football. The 22-year-old was training away with the squad during the mid-season camp and did not feature for the team until last Wednesday in a 2-2 draw against Leeds United. His previous league appearance came on October 22.

Mental health is something we have to be very careful of. As much as it looked like Sancho was back to normal during his cameo appearance against Leeds, we never know what is going on inside a person’s head.

When asked about the Englishman, ten Hag said it was impossible to say that he is free of all the issues. Here’s what the boss said (h/t Express):

“I can’t answer that question. It’s impossible. It’s a personal thing and you don’t know in anyone’s 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 and to ensure and encourage and motivate all the players to give their best.”

The way ten Hag has handled the Sancho situation is commendable. It shows that while the Dutchman is adamant about demanding the highest standards from the players, he is not away from supporting them when things are not right.

We can hope that the time out, along with support from the manager and others, has reignited the player’s health. As much as football is important, his health (both physically and mentally) has to take primary precedence.

Since arriving from Borussia Dortmund 18 months ago, Sancho’s form has been inconsistent. A goal on his return from a three-month hiatus to salvage a point for United on Wednesday would have done wonders for his confidence.

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If he builds on that and the support system stays strong, we could see the 22-year-old flying in the next few months for us.