Although he is everyone’s favorite player when fit, Jadon Sancho continues to play within himself. He has reached the point where Erik ten Hag should drop the winger from Manchester United’s starting lineup.
Many expected that Sancho would break loose this season with the additional creation of Christian Eriksen behind him and Erik ten Hag’s desire for dynamic and direct wide strikers.
But after several opportunities and several lackluster performances, Sancho seems reluctant to perform at the level he showed at Borussia Dortmund. During United’s marvelous victory over Tottenham Hotspur, Sancho was perhaps the only player on the team who was not a Man of the Match candidate.
After missing a pass, Ten Hag quickly brought in Fred in place of Sancho tonight against Chelsea. With United looking for a crucial goal, this substitution was a criticism of the 22-year-old’s performances this season and a sign of Ten Hag’s dissatisfaction.
Alejandro Garnacho and Facundo Pellistri watched as Ten Hag opted to stabilize their midfield rather than make an equal exchange. Now they should get a chance to show off their skills in United’s forward line.
Ten Hag has made sure this season that he picks players based on their form, as evidenced by Scott McTominay’s persistent pick over Casemiro in September, even when it was perhaps not fitting to do so.
So now should be the clearest opportunity to give the young strikers a first-team start given Sancho’s serious lack of form in recent games.
Sancho has averaged 0.4 shots on goal, 0.7 dribbles and 0.1 crosses per game this season. He has created 0 great chances. It is time for others to be tested in the position of the left.
Garnacho and Pellistri are also not inconsiderable in terms of their caliber. Pellistri is a permanent fixture in Uruguay’s golden generation squad and Garnacho led United to the FA Youth Cup title.
If they are not going to be given the opportunity to show their talent and value in a position that cries out for a rejuvenation for a coach renowned for his ability to develop young players, when will they?
Anthony Elanga showed more drive, confidence and attacking momentum than Sancho during his cameo tonight; Should the Swede be back in the starting eleven for the next matches?
If Ten Hag is still hesitant to try out the young South Americans or give Elanga a real shot at left wing, then he should consider pushing Marcus Rashford to the outside.
Rashford had developed into one of the best left inside forwards in the league three seasons ago. With his lack of ruthlessness and success in front of goal as United’s centre-forward, it may be time to move him to his favorite position. He scored 18 goals and provided 12 assists on the left flank during the 2019/20 season, and scored 11 from this position the following year.
However, the dilemma involved in Rashford’s re-instatement on the left wing is the lack of strikers at the club.
With the Cristiano Ronaldo debacle in full swing and Anthony Martial still on the sidelines, Charlie McNeill and Joe Hugill appear to be the only other nine available at the club.
In any case, this Chelsea match has indicated that Ten Hag needs to rework his forward line and experiment with his options for the upcoming games. And he may have to immerse himself in United’s illustrious group of young talent.
