Ferguson Five Golden Rules Broken – Erik ten Hag has sparked Man Utd problem by breaking Sir Alex Ferguson’s golden rule
Erik ten Hag's public clash with Jadon Sancho at Manchester United has not only stirred controversy but also violated one of Sir Alex Ferguson's core principles.
Ten Hag made headlines following Manchester United’s 3-1 defeat to Arsenal when he openly stated that Sancho was excluded from the match-day squad because of his recent training performances.
He emphasized that Jadon didn’t meet the expected standards at Manchester United in training, leading to his non-selection for the game.
Sancho responded swiftly to Ten Hag’s comments, taking to social media to express his frustration: “Please don’t believe everything you read! I will not allow people to say things that are completely untrue.
I have conducted myself in training very well this week. I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won’t go into.
I have been a scapegoat for a long time, which isn’t fair! All I want to do is play football with a smile on my face and contribute to my team.
I respect all decisions made by the coaching staff, and I play with fantastic players, which I know every week is a challenge. I will continue to fight for this badge no matter what!”
Both Ten Hag and Sancho have faced criticism for how they’ve handled this situation. Interestingly, a past statement from club legend Ferguson highlights that Ten Hag’s public criticism of his player goes against the former manager’s philosophy.
In 2009, Ferguson stated: “I would not criticize one of my own players publicly. When you make public criticism of your players, you damage morale. Your job is to keep it (the dressing room) solid.”
Sancho’s response to Ten Hag led to speculation about his future at Manchester United, with rumors linking him to a potential move to Saudi Arabia while their transfer window remained open. Ultimately, Sancho remained at Old Trafford, but the status of his relationship with the manager remains uncertain.
It’s worth noting that some sections of the United dressing room reportedly have concerns about Sancho’s behavior, as per ESPN. Several players believe that the £73 million signing should be performing at a higher level than he currently is.
