Manchester United misfit Jadon Sancho has revealed the ‘hardest’ moment of his entire footballing career ahead of his public rift with manager Erik ten Hag.
Jadon Sancho only managed three matches for Manchester United in the 2023-24 campaign before he was frozen out of the first team in 2023.
Erik ten Hag publicly criticised Sancho after he revealed why the United winger failed to make his matchday squad for the Arsenal match last September.
Sancho defended his corner and the United loanee dropped a bombshell statement on social media after Ten Hag’s remarks about him.
The England international was subsequently excluded from the first team and Sancho’s future at Old Trafford was plunged into doubt after his spat with Ten Hag.
However, Sancho was offered a lifeline after former club Borussia Dortmund made a move for him in January and agreed to take him out on loan.
The Borussia Dortmund winger made a name for himself during his first spell in Germany before he made his £73m move to Old Trafford in 2021.
Sancho’s fate under Ten Hag remains unclear once his loan spell ends, with United reportedly keen to sell the Red Devils misfit in the summer transfer window.
Sancho on ‘hard’ moment in his career
Despite his differences with Erik ten Hag, Sancho revealed that his rift with the Manchester United manager was not the toughest period in his career.
The Borussia Dortmund player admitted that a “hard” time for him in his career came when he was on international duty with England during Euro 2020.
Gareth Southgate’s men came within touching distance of England’s first piece of major silverware since the 1966 World Cup, only to fall short at Euro 2020.
England blew a 1-0 lead against Italy in the final at Wembley before suffering a 3-2 defeat on penalties in the Euro 2020 final.
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka and United duo Sancho and Marcus Rashford failed to convert from the spot-kick, with Italy lifting the trophy at Wembley in 2021.
Speaking on the Euro 2020 final, Sancho told The Daily Mirror: “It was hard. The backlash wasn’t nice.
“Being in London, not in a million years would I have thought we would receive that. It’s a memory I try to block but I just have to be positive.
“It’s football for you. People say things in the moment I am sure they don’t mean. But they have to realise that when they say those things it does impact us.
“After that, it was the summer break and that summer was hard. Just reflecting: ‘Why did it have to be me?’
“It felt as though we’d let our country down. I know we didn’t but that’s how it felt in the moment.
“Of course, I saw the love. And we do appreciate it – speaking on behalf of Bukayo and Marcus.
“But it is still something in my head sometimes. I don’t think I have fully recovered yet but I’m trying my best.”
Sancho ready to put behind Euro 2020 troubles
Sancho’s loan spell with Dortmund will culminate on Saturday with the German club’s encounter with Real Madrid in the Champions League final at Wembley.
The United winger could be forced to step up for another penalty shootout if the contest between Dortmund and Madrid isn’t settled in regular playing time.
However, Sancho appears ready to put behind his Euro 2020 memories and admitted he would “definitely be ready to take a penalty” if the chance came up.
“If you think about it, after that, the only other penalty I took was against Brighton at Wembley [for Manchester United] and I did score,” he added.
“It’s one of those moments when you believe in yourself. I’ve been taking penalties for a long time and I just practice and practice to get more confidence.
“I’ve never really doubted myself to take a penalty, so I’d definitely be ready to take a penalty if it came up. It’s going to be a great day and a great occasion for my family.”