Erik ten Hag has revealed the reason that Jadon Sancho was left out of Manchester United's squad that lost 2-1 to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday afternoon.
The Red Devils kicked off the 2024-25 Premier League season on a positive note, beating Fulham 1-0 at Old Trafford last week, with summer signing Joshua Zirkzee opening his account for his new employers.
However, Ten Hag's side's first away game of the season ended in defeat, with the Seagulls snatching a victory with virtually the final kick of the game.
Former Man United striker Danny Welbeck gave the hosts the lead in the first half before Amad Diallo levelled proceedings on the hour-mark, but the final word was had by Joao Pedro, who netted the winner five minutes into stoppage-time at the end of the 90.
United made five substitutions in the match, including bringing on Zirkzee, Antony and Alejandro Garnacho, but Sancho, despite travelling with the team to the Amex, was not even named in the matchday squad.
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Ten Hag reveals reason for Sancho exclusion
In a pre-match discussion with TNT Sports, Ten Hag was quizzed about the reason behind his decision to leave the England international out for a second week in a row.
The Dutchman responded: "He's here. I had a choice to make. We had some issues, we need a full squad.
"He's one of them and he has to compete for his position and game to game we will have a look. But in the squad every position we need double because it's going to be a long season."
Sancho was banished from the Red Devils' first team in September last year after a public falling out with the manager and spent the second half of the season on loan at his former club Borussia Dortmund.
The 24-year-old attacker returned to Old Trafford ahead of pre-season and was reintegrated into the squad after reportedly burying the hatchet with the United boss.
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What next for Jadon Sancho's future at Man United?
Man United's third league match of the season is scheduled for next weekend, when they play host to bitter rivals Liverpool on September 1 - the day after the English transfer window slams shut.
However, Sancho's omission from the squad over the the first two gameweeks has unsurprisingly ramped up speculation over whether the 24-year-old will still be a United player by then.
The England international has been linked with several clubs this summer, including the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, who may still make a late move for his signature.
Sancho was signed by the Red Devils at the start of the 2021-22 season for a fee of £73m and has scored 12 goals and provided six assists in 83 appearances for the club.
His contract at Old Trafford runs until the summer of 2026, with United holding the option to extend for a further 12 months.
Devesh Jaganath
