Erik ten haag
Erik ten Hag believes Jadon Sancho can develop into a prolific goalscorer for Manchester United after his matchwinning performance at Leicester. Sancho scored the only goal of the game to extend United’s winning run to three matches and he now has two goals in his last three games. Last season, the 22-year-old did not claim his second goal until November and Ten Hag is pleased Sancho is building on his propitious pre-season performances by embracing the physical aspect of English football.
Erik Ten Hag said: “I think he had quite a good pre-season. He understands now he has to invest in the physical and that is what he did and now he can get the reward and that is what he has to bring. I’m sure it’s the start for him. With his potential, there’s much more room for improvement, he can be even more important and contribute with his creativity and scoring goals and assists. With the defending part, he can be even more important. Yes, I think he can (become a prolific goalscorer). He has the capabilities and he did it also in a different league, but this is Premier League, so the intensity is higher, so he has to adapt to that, mentally and physically. The capabilities are there, the skills.”
United could have won more comfortably at basement club Leicester, still winless after five games, but Ten Hag has presided over United’s first three-game winning run since April 2021.
Erik Ten Hag added: “Quite solid, I think the team is acting quite a solid performance, defend well with 11 and they did really good. I think some moments we attracted the free-kick, we had to avoid that but in that moment I think we should have been up 2-0. There was so much space on the pitch, then we have to use it, we had some good counter opportunities and we need them. Maybe that is too quick to say that (we have turned a corner), we are happy with it. You see there’s raising a team, there is a squad raising and sticking together, they support each other and fight for each other and cooperate, that is important. If you do that you get the right scores and we did that in the last three games. Now we have to step up further, improve further. Sunday (against Arsenal) is a really good game and a really good test and so we look forward.”
