"Manager has to be the one behind the player" - Klopp believes Manchester United boss Ten Hag should've supported Jadon Sancho more
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag did not support Jadon Sancho enough at Old Trafford. The German took a dig at the Dutchman for his treatment of the former Borussia Dortmund winger.
The 24-year-old joined Chelsea on a season-long loan from Manchester United this summer, which includes an obligation to buy.
In just three seasons at the club, Sancho worked under four different managers. He was signed under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was sacked just a few months later. The club deployed Michael Carrick as the caretaker manager before roping in Ralf Rangnick as the interim manager.
Erik Ten Hag took over at Old Trafford in the summer of 2022. However, the relationship between Sancho and Ten Hag turned sour last year with the player banished from the club's training ground. He was sent on loan to Dortmund for the second half of the season.
However, Klopp feels that the manager needs to back a player when they are being criticised by others. During the show, 'An Evening with Jurgen Klopp', the German tactician slammed the Manchester United manager for his treatment of Sancho.
"If the whole world loses trust and faith in the player, then the manager has to be the one behind the player," Klopp said (via ESPN UK).
Klopp added that he felt he was mistreated by the Red Devils, who didn't know what to do with their big-money signing.
"I cannot just buy into that 'he's useless' stuff like other clubs did by the way. Buying a player for £80 million and then sending him out on loan!" Klopp added.
Jadon Sancho and Jurgen Klopp both have ties with Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund. The manager left Dortmund for Liverpool in 2015 with the versatile forward joining the club in 2017 from Manchester City. After spending four seasons at the German side, Manchester United stumped up a fee of £80 million to sign him in the summer of 2021.
"I'm really excited to join Chelsea" - Former Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho
Sancho will be aiming to put his Manchester United nightmare behind him as he prepares for the 2024-25 season at Chelsea under new boss Enzo Maresca.
In his interview after signing for the Blues on deadline day, Sancho spoke about his excitement about joining the club and his return to London.
"I’m really excited. Obviously London is where I grew up, so I am happy to be back," Sancho said.
Sancho, a former Manchester City youth player, spoke about Enzo Maresca being the reason for him joining Chelsea.
"It’s the manager, obviously. He spoke to me on the phone and told me about the project and what he was building. For a young player like myself, it’s really exciting," said Sancho.
Sancho added the fans can expect a lot of goals and assists from him and signed off saying he is "ready to bring some excitement to the Bridge".