Sancho in sensational comeback
Forgotten winger helps pull United back from 2-0 down Ten Hag says match-saving goal can kick-start career
Erik ten Hag believes a comeback goal could help kick-start Jadon Sancho’s season after watching the winger salvage a precious point for Manchester United against Leeds United here last night.
United were trailing 2-0 and facing the prospect of a first Premier League home defeat since the opening day of the season when Sancho, a second-half substitute, claimed an equaliser after Marcus Rashford’s 20th goal of the season had started the fightback.
Sancho missed three months of the campaign after being sent away by Ten Hag to work on his physical and mental condition and the United manager is confident the player will take great heart from his showing against Leeds.
“I am really happy he is in the right direction, I hope he can keep this momentum going and I am sure it will strengthen him and motivate him even more,” Ten Hag said.
“He is a brilliant footballer and if he can invest in the right levels he can be outstanding. We now have a team that can dictate a game and play in the opponents’ half and he likes that. He can play in tight areas. he can make the difference. The second goal shows it.
“It is in his own hands, and, so, if he wants, he can do it and in this team, it is great to play in, it gives you joy. I really enjoy seeing him playing the way he did with so much confidence, with so much belief.
“It is clear it has been a difficult period [for him] but he finds himself out and he needs credit for that. I am pleased and proud he did it [went away and worked], so I will back him, the coaches will and the team, but finally he has to do it himself.
“You can see when he is in good levels he is an outstanding player. I hope he can score a lot of goals or assists.”
Leeds, who sacked manager Jesse Marsch on Monday and remain in the hunt for a replacement, opened the scoring after just 55 seconds through Wilfried Gnonto and doubled their advantage at the start of the second half when Raphael Varane turned Crysencio Summerville’s cross into his own net.
Ten Hag was furious with the timing of both goals.
“If you start each half the way we did, it is unacceptable,” he said. “It is really frustrating but I have to make compliments to the team, the way they are resilient, fight back, create chances and score two really good goals.
“But definitely it was true that each half we are not ready. I started my talk at half-time with, ‘Hey, guys we are not ready – make sure you are ready’ and then we go out and they score again. I am disappointed we lose all the battles in the first minutes of each half.”
Sancho, 22, tweeted after the match: “I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed this feeling! Team showed great character to stay in the game, we go again on the weekend.”