ERIK TEN HAG has revealed why Jadon Sancho was not in the Manchester United squad to face Fulham on Friday.
The Red Devils kicked off their 2024-25 Premier League campaign with a 1-0 win over Marco Silva’s side.
New signing Joshua Zirkzee scored the decisive goal in the 87th minute after coming off the bench.
But winger Sancho, who returned to the first team squad in pre-season, was nowhere to be seen.
The 24-year-old was not named on the bench before the match.
And Ten Hag subsequently revealed it was illness that stopped him from making the squad.
He said: “First of all we need squad depth it is a season of survival of the fittest
“Jadon in the week had an ear infection and wasn’t 100 per cent fit. He could play but we preferred other players. That will change in season when we need to rotate.
“Sometimes it is frustrating for the player. But every player will get his chance.”
Sancho has been heavily linked with a move away from Old Trafford in recent months.
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Reports in Germany have suggested Chelsea want to sign him.
The Blues are allegedly willing to offer a fee and two academy players for Sancho.
They are also open to the idea of a loan with an obligation to buy.
Sancho was loaned out to Borussia Dortmund in January after falling out of favour with Ten Hag.
The two came to blows following United’s defeat to Arsenal last September.
Ten Hag claimed the winger was left out of the squad because he was not up to standard in training.
Sancho then responded by publicly claiming he was made a “scapegoat”.
He was subsequently expelled from the first team and forced to train separately at Carrington while officials found a solution.
However, the two rebuilt bridges at the start of pre-season.
Sancho said: “It’s been nice, back with the lads, it’s been good.”
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