Man United coach reveals why Jadon Sancho refused to apologise to Erik Ten Hag

Man United coach reveals why Jadon Sancho refused to apologise to Erik Ten Hag

Manchester united first-team coach Benni McCarthy has revealed why Jadon Sancho refused to apologise to Erik ten Hag following their row earlier in the season.

Sancho was frozen out by the Old Trafford boss after refusing to apologise for an inflammatory social media post in response to Ten Hag claiming he was not at the required ‘level’ in training to be picked for matches.

‘Please don’t believe everything you read,’ Sancho wrote on X after Ten Hag criticised his output in training.

‘I will not allow people saying things that is completely untrue, I have conducted myself very well in training this week.

‘I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won’t go into, I’ve been a scapegoat for a long time which isn’t fair!’

Sancho returned to Borussia Dortmund on loan in January and has began to revive his career in Germany, helping Edin Terzic’s side reach Saturday’s Champions League final, where they will meet Real Madrid.

Dortmund hope to sign Sancho on a permanent deal this summer and the 24-year-old, who cost United £73m in 2021, also wants to remain at the Bundesliga club, especially if Ten Hag remains in charge at Old Trafford.

Manchester United coach McCarthy has lifted the lid on Sancho’s bust-up with Ten Hag and explained why the England forward refused to apologise despite his Old Trafford career being on the line.

‘I spoke to the manager and I said to him that you know the delicacy,’ former Premier League forward McCarthy, who took on a coaching role at United in 2022, told 947.

‘I told him I think Jadon feels that if he apologises then he’s going to be classed as someone who doesn’t train hard, that doesn’t work hard and that everything that was said against him was true.

‘If you are from the streets, no one wants to apologise because then you’re admitting you are not training well, you are lazy, everything you are accused of.

‘Jadon wasn’t going to have that. The manager just said that all he wants is an apology.’

The ex-South Africa star added: ‘I spoke to Jadon as a coach, as a mentor, as a friend, and as someone who grew up on the streets and knows the code.

‘But Jadon just wasn’t seeing it. He said, “I ain’t apologising because if I do, I’m apologising for being lazy, always being late, not giving my best. That’s what I’m apologising for”. And those were his reasons.’

Despite struggling at Manchester United, Sancho has played a key role in Dortmund’s surprising run to the Champions League final.

Borussia Dortmund, who finished fifth in the Bundesliga this season, face 14-time Champions League winners Real Madrid at Wembley on Saturday night.

‘I always knew one day I would play in a game like this,’ Sancho told TNT Sports.

‘For it to be London, and for me to be only 24, to get my first experience in a Champions League final is actually surreal. It hasn’t really sunk in yet, but when we travel to London the occasion will start to hit me