Erik ten Hag: I would not be doing my job if I did not ban Jadon Sancho and Antony, I don’t care of what fans may think, I’m doing my job
Erik ten Hag says he would not be doing his job at Manchester United if he did not adopt a hard line stance with Jadon Sancho and Antony.
Sancho has been banished from first-team training after his public criticism of Ten Hag and Antony has agreed to stay away from the club until further notice while he fights allegations made by three women against him.
Neither Sancho nor Antony will be involved against Brighton at Old Trafford on Saturday but Ten Hag says his position on both players is another example of him enforcing United’s demands that he restore discipline at the club.
“Strict lines is the point, [it] is what the club asked me because there was no good culture before last season so to set some good standards, that is what I did,” the United manager said.
“That is my job, to control the standards. It has never been when someone makes one mistake, it is a whole process before you come to a certain outcome about strict lines.
“If staff, players or whoever, if there is a structure [and you] cross lines you have to be strong, absolutely.”
Sancho has been told to train away from the first team after refusing to bow to Ten Hag’s demands for a public apology after the player took to social media to effectively accuse his manager of lying over the reasons for his absence in the 3-1 defeat at Arsenal on September 3.
Antony will not be available to train or play while he deals with the allegations against him. The Brazil winger, 23, has been accused of attacking a former girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin on a number of occasions between June last year and May this year.
He has also been accused of physical violence towards two more women, Ingrid Lana and Rayssa de Freitas. Antony strenuously denies all the allegations and has vowed to prove his innocence.
Ten Hag said the team always came before any one individual. “It is always about the team, that is ahead of everything else but within that everyone plays his role and everyone has different characters and you have to manage those characters,” he said. “But the team is always above anything else.”
Ten Hag said he had “no idea” when Antony would be back. “Of course, he is disappointed but he is okay,” the manager added.
Ten Hag refused to discuss the particulars of his public spat with Sancho but insisted the mood in the squad was good despite the problems he has to deal with.
“I think everything is said [about Sancho] so as I said the squad is strong, in good spirits and a good mood going into the game,” he said. “You have sometimes setbacks in seasons, players are injured or for other reasons are not available so you construct a squad and the squad is very good and the players who are available are very motivated to give a good performance.”
Harry Maguire’s mum, Zoe, slammed the abuse directed at her son this week after the United defender was subjected to more taunts during England’s 3-1 friendly win over Scotland on Tuesday. And Ten Hag has also called for the player to be shown more respect.
“I have said many times, it is disrespectful, he doesn’t deserve it, he is a great player, gives great performances,” said Ten Hag. “It’s crazy but it’s how it works and Harry has to block this by performances.”
Asked how Maguire was dealing with the abuse, Ten Hag added: “Good, it’s unjustified when you see his career, it’s a great career and it has a lot to come but he has to block it by good performances.”
Ten Hag said centre-backs Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof were available to face Brighton after an injury scare and illness respectively. Raphael Varane and Mason Mount will not be available but Ten Hag said both were nearing returns.
“Both are in a good place and I think shortly for a return,” he said.
