On August 10, Manchester United will officially enter the new season by facing their city rivals, Man City, in the Community Shield match.
However, this will be a confrontation that coach Erik Ten Hag really feels worried about , especially with the gaps in all three lines of the squad. In defense, new player Leny Yoro is injured and has to rest for 3 months and when Lisandro Martinez has not returned to the field after Copa America 2024, other options such as Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof or Jonny Evans do not bring peace of mind.
In midfield, Casemiro has been in serious decline, Christian Eriksen is not doing much better and Scott McTominay is on the verge of leaving Old Trafford. Finally, in attack, Rasmus Hojlund is injured and Joshua Zirkzee has not had a match to get acquainted with the new team, making it difficult for coach Erik Ten Hag to find a center forward in the clash with Man City.
In that context, it is likely that the Dutch strategist will use the virtual number 9 option with Jadon Sancho being the most suitable person to take on this role.
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In fact, when Hojlund was injured in the clash with Arsenal, coach Erik Ten Hag continuously arranged for the former Dortmund player to play highest up front, but when needed, he was ready to drop back to join in linking play, supporting pressing and performing dangerous combinations with his teammates.
Although Man United had a poor result when they lost 0-3 to Liverpool recently, before that, in the match against Real Betis, this idea of the Dutch strategist was effective when the trio Jason Sancho – Marcus Rashford – Amad Diallo continuously stirred up the defense to bring home 3 early goals in the first half.
Speaking about the possibility of using Sancho in the role of false 9 in the near future, coach Erik Ten Hag expressed: ” We have to change without Rasmus Hojlund, but of course, Joshua Zirkzee will be involved. He has started training, but it is also important to remember that Zirkzee does not have much time to get used to the new environment. He has to adapt to English football and our way of playing.
There is also Jadon Sancho, as a striker. We know he can play in many positions. He can also play as a false nine. Jadon Sancho is an option .”
Things are really turning in a positive direction for Jadon Sancho. From being considered ‘redundant’ at Man United under coach Erik Ten Hag, he is gradually regaining the trust of the Dutch coach and with being trusted in his new role, the winger born in 2000 needs to know how to take advantage of this opportunity to assert himself in the Red Devils’ shirt.
