Man Utd need “players who are hungry to fight”, not discipline – Erik ten Hag after Sancho’s exit

Erik ten Hag has emphasised the necessity for “hungry players” in the wake of the departures of Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United.

It has been more than a year since the exit of Portugal’s superstar from the United ranks, with Ten Hag taking decisive action in response to Ronaldo’s public criticism of various aspects of the club, including the Dutch manager.

Although the Ronaldo issue eventually subsided, a new challenge emerged with Sancho, resulting in a public feud between player and manager. Once again, Ten Hag emerged victorious, with the winger being excluded and subsequently loaned back to Borussia Dortmund.

Having excluded two potentially problematic stars from his squad, Ten Hag underscores the significance of instilling discipline among his players.

He said in a press conference on United’s official channels: “It is that [important] if you want to perform; you need hungry players. I already said we need personality and players who are hungry to fight for the badge, to fight for this club and to do it within the team. It is not about discipline; this is normal behaviour. It is about that and what you can expect from a top professional.”

Conversely, on the flip side of the revolving exit door at Old Trafford, Ten Hag has embraced a cadre of promising talents whom he envisions as the bedrock of his team for an extended period.

But the Dutchman stressed patience in that regard, adding: “[With] talent, you need time, like the development you have seen from [Alejandro] Garnacho, from Kobbie Mainoo, and so, for instance, also from Rasmus Hojlund.

“He needs time, but in the same moment, I know we don’t have time, but I know this could happen. You need time to get that progress, and for me, it is not difficult. I see it as generational that this is how the process could go. Sometimes you need some moments to step up and get that belief in.”

Sancho wasted no time in leaving an impact upon his return to Germany, contributing an assist for the seasoned forward and close companion Marco Reus in Dortmund’s 3-0 triumph over Darmstadt on Saturday. This highlights the talent that Ten Hag was unable to tap into during his stint at Old Trafford.

Now, Ten Hag looks to players like Garnacho, Antony, Marcus Rashford, and others to step up and fill the scoring gap in what has been a goal-dry start to the campaign. In the league, only Burnley and Sheffield United have recorded fewer goals.

Later on Sunday, Ten Hag’s team is set to face Tottenham in the Premier League. Chelsea’s victory on Saturday propelled them past the Red Devils into eighth place, but a result other than a defeat for United would reclaim their position ahead of the West London counterparts.