Jadon Sancho 'snuck out to come to London a lot' and 'nobody knew him' at Man United: Erik ten Hag's ex-assistant gives his view on why £73m star flopped before spat and Chelsea move

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The ex-Premier League striker worked alongside Sancho during his time at club

Benni McCarthy has detailed why he thinks Jadon Sancho's stint at United failed

Former Manchester United coach Benni McCarthy has offered his perspective as to why Jadon Sancho's time at the club ended in failure.

After earning a reputation as one of then most promising talents in world football during a four-year stint with Borussia Dortmund, Sancho arrived at Old Trafford to significant fanfare during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's reign at the club.

Despite showing glimpses of his potential in Manchester, Sancho would ultimately struggle to live up to the billing of his £73m price tag throughout his time at the club.

A public spat between Sancho and Man United boss Erik ten Hag last season led to the winger rejoining Dortmund on loan, before he made a deadline day move to Premier League rivals Chelsea this summer.

Asked why he felt Sancho had failed to reach his potential in a red shirt McCarthy noted their was a lack of 'communication and understanding' between the player and his coaching staff.

Ex-Man United coach Benni McCarthy has shared Jadon Sancho's struggles at the club

The former Premier League striker served as an assistant to Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford

McCarthy claimed a 'lack of communication' was a contributing factor in Sancho failing to star

🚨 Why things went wrong for Sancho at Man U?

🗣️ Benni McCarthy

"It was a real shame...I thought he was the type of player that would flourish in the United shirt. I think lack of communication and understanding was was part of the downside"

📺 https://t.co/wN8qZA09gv pic.twitter.com/TLjakRHt59 — On The Whistle (@otw_podcast) October 3, 2024

'Just a bit of communication problems, really, because Sanch is a very quiet guy.' McCarthy said on the On The Whistle podcast.

'No one knows literally nothing about Jadon. Jadon comes in, he does his job, he does his work, and then it's just like, very quiet.

'[He's] a great boy, great character, fantastic footballer, unbelievable the things that he can do. For me, it was a real shame that it didn't work out for Jadon at United, because I thought he was the type of player that that would flourish in a United shirt.

'But unfortunately, I think lack of communication and understanding, I think was was part of the downside that didn't end up working with Sanch.'

After Ten Hag was unveiled as United's new manager in 2022, Sancho would net twice in his first five league appearances before later taking an extended break from football to overcome physical and mental issues.

Ten Hag took a sympathetic approach and sent the forward to train at Dutch amateur club OJC Rosmalen where he worked with coaches trusted by the United boss. He did not play for the club for more than three months.

McCarthy praised on Sancho's ability and lamented that his time at United was not a success

He claimed Sancho frequently travelled to London from Manchester to spend time with friends

The nadir of Sancho's time at United would come in September of last year when he engaged in a public falling out with Ten Hag.

After United suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Arsenal, the Dutchman claimed Sancho had been left out of his matchday squad based 'on his performances in training.'

Sancho hit back at the claims on social media, claiming he had been made a 'scapegoat' as United endured a stuttering start to the season.

'Please don't believe everything you read!' he said. 'I will not allow people to say things that are completely untrue. I have conducted myself in training very well this week.

'I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won't go into, I've been a scapegoat for a long time which isn't fair!

'All I want to do is play football with a smile on my face and contribute to the team. I respect all decisions that are made by the coaching staff, I play with fantastic players and I am grateful to do so, which I know every week is a challenge. I will continue to fight for this badge no matter what!'

The situation only worsened after Sancho refused to disavow his comments as club executives attempting to broker a peace deal between the pair.

Sancho often found first-team minutes hard to come by after the arrival of Ten Hag in 2022

In the Dutchman's first season at the club he was limited to just 21 Premier League starts

Sancho was subsequently forced to train away from the United first-team and was allowed to return to Dortmund on loan in January.

After once again demonstrating his considerable ability as the Bundesliga side reached the Champions League final, Sancho and Ten Hag reached an uneasy truce this summer that saw him briefly return to the fold.

A final United appearance saw him brought on as a late substitute in their Community Shield curtain-raiser against Manchester City.

The clash ultimately went to spot kicks and Sancho's effort from twelve yards was denied by Ederson, before Jonny Evans skied his penalty to hand victory to their bitter rivals.

With the prospect of another season on the periphery approaching, Sancho was handed a lifeline by Chelsea, joining the Blues on deadline day on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy in the summer.

McCarthy added a move to west London offers the former England international the perfect opportunity to return to his best and revitalise his career.

A public spat with Ten Hag led to Sancho being banished from the first-team dressing room

With no resolution found, Sancho was allowed to rejoin Borussia Dortmund on loan in January

The forward was part of Edin Terzic's side that reached the 2024 Champions League final

'He's closer to home because he did sneak out to come to London quite a lot,' McCarthy said of Sancho's time at United.

'So probably the fact that he was missing home, and, just wanted to be a bit closer to to family and friends and his culture.

'The London culture is quite strong, so I think Jadon maybe wanted more of that. So that's why he kept on. He was in London quite a lot.

'Now he is closer to home, so hopefully he can find that peace, he can find that bit of magic that that he found when he went to Dortmund, and he gets the love that he deserves from the from the coaching staff, the players.

'I think he will turn out to be a special player again. Because I think every single one that knows Sancho that would want him to be at that level, because it's good for world football.'

Since arriving at Stamford Bridge Sancho has wasted little time in settling in under Blues boss Enzo Maresca.

The 25-year-old was handed his debut as a second-half substitute against Bournemouth last month and immediately repaid his manager's faith by assisting Christopher Nkunku's late winner.

In his first competitive game for United in ten months, Sancho missed a penalty in the Community Shield

Sancho joined Chelsea in August on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy next summer

He has enjoyed a flying start to life in west London with three assists in as many games

Since then he has only continued to flourish for the Blues, adding further assists in comfortable Premier League victories over West Ham and Brighton.

Chelsea now sit fourth in the league table, just two points behind leaders Liverpool and six in front of United.

Sancho's representatives declined to comment.

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