Erik ten Hag speaks about disciplinary breaches involving Antony & Jadon Sancho

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has openly acknowledged that the club's culture was not up to par when he first took charge. However, he has made it a priority to address this issue.

Ten Hag was appointed as the new boss of the Red Devils after a tumultuous 2021/22 season, during which they finished sixth in the Premier League with only 58 points.

In that season, there were high expectations for United to challenge for the title, especially after re-signing Cristiano Ronaldo. However, those hopes quickly faded, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked as manager in November 2021.

Interim manager Ralf Rangnick took over but failed to improve United's declining results. He consistently criticized the club's shortcomings in press conferences and even stated that they needed a major overhaul.

Ten Hag brought discipline back to United in his first season as manager. He notably dropped Ronaldo from the starting lineup before his contract was mutually terminated. Furthermore, star forward Marcus Rashford was also punished for arriving late to a team meeting during the winter.

However, United has faced several off-pitch issues at the start of the 2023/24 season. After initially planning to reintegrate Mason Greenwood into the first team, the club decided to loan him out to Getafe on transfer deadline day.

Antony, another player, is currently on leave in Brazil following allegations of assault made by three women. Meanwhile, winger Jadon Sancho has been training separately from the first team after a social media clash with Ten Hag. Sancho was dropped from the matchday squad to face Arsenal on September 3.

During a press conference before the upcoming match against Brighton & Hove Albion, Ten Hag was asked about the Sancho issue. Although he did not directly address it, he clarified his stance on squad discipline as a whole.

'I think everything has been said about Sancho. As I mentioned, the squad is strong, with a good spirit and mood going into the game,' Ten Hag stated.

'In a season, setbacks occur such as injuries or other reasons why players are unavailable, and that's why you build a squad. The squad is very good, and the players are motivated to deliver a strong performance.

'Having strict guidelines is crucial. The club asked me to set standards due to a poor culture before the end of last season, and that's precisely what I did. It's my responsibility to enforce these standards.

'Of course, it's not about punishing someone for a single mistake. It's a process that leads to a decision regarding strict guidelines. If there's any violation of these guidelines by staff, players, or anyone else, we have to remain firm.'

When asked about Antony's return, Ten Hag replied, 'I have no idea. He's disappointed but coping.'