Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag issued a warning to his players after Jadon Sancho moved to Borussia Dortmund on a loan deal after a four-month-long feud with the Dutchman.
Ten Hag, who joined the club in 2022, is currently in charge of his second season with the Red Devils and has decided to be ruthless when it comes to players who are not willing to give their all in training.
His strategy sparked division, with certain fans embracing his decisive approach towards players. However, the former Ajax coach faced criticism for discarding star players too readily, overseeing 14 defeats this season.
Ten Hag cautioned the rest of his squad that they too may face expulsion if they crossed the line.
“If you want to perform you need hungry players,” said Ten Hag. “You need players with personalities who are hungry to fight for the badge and fight for this club. And they need to do this as a team.
“It’s not about discipline, It’s about normal behaviour. That is what you can expect from a top professional.”
Nevertheless, Ten Hag is fully aware that the pressure on his position will intensify if his team loses to Spurs. Currently positioned ninth and trailing by nine points from the top four, with no European competitions in sight, he is now striving to salvage the season.
“No, it’s not difficult for me, because I expected from the start of this season that the process could go negative and as a manager, you have to stay positive and get the process back in the right direction.
“In the meantime, you have to be pragmatic. Get as many points as possible, and wait until the players are fit - and in the meantime work on your team, work on individuals to go to a higher level, set conditions for the team performing better and the results will rise again.”
United are anticipated to engage in further transactions in the January transfer window after offloading Sancho, even if it's a temporary arrangement. Players like Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial are also expected to be let go, considering they could otherwise depart for free when their contracts expire in the summer.
