Erik ten Hag issues rallying cry to Man Utd squad amid Jadon Sancho uncertainty

Erik ten Hag has called on his Manchester United squad, including Jadon Sancho, to be 'motivated to contribute' throughout this season.

Sancho was frozen out of the Red Devils fold last year after hitting back on social media at criticism from Ten Hag. He spent the second half of the campaign on loan at former club Borussia Dortmund.

Though Sancho was brought back into the United fold for pre-season after seemingly clearing the air with the manager, the winger was left out of the matchday squad for their first game of the Premier League campaign. He has since been linked with moves to Barcelona and Chelsea.

When asked if Sancho could return to the squad to face Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend, Ten Hag replied: "We will see."

Ten Hag was asked again about Sancho's status, which prompted him to lay down a challenge to his entire squad.

"We have a squad and I hope we will have a squad with double positioning and when we go into the season after the first of September, that means also you can't select all the players for a game, but you need them all throughout the season because this season will be the survival of the fittest," he added.

"We have to manage it, but also the attitude of the players is very important, sometimes they will be disappointed, but they have to deal with it. You don't win with XI, you win with a squad. The prizes are decided next May and until then we need all the players in the squad and highly motivated to contribute.

"That is not an expectation, that is a demand from the club and from me as manager to the squad. The team is always more important than anyone individual."

United stumbled through the 2023/24 season battling several major injuries to key players. They have strengthened their squad for the new campaign with the additions of Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui.

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