In a recent episode of The Obi One podcast, former Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi expressed his disagreement with Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag's handling of the Jadon Sancho situation. Mikel Obi believes that Ten Hag's decision to publicly criticize the 23-year-old player was inappropriate and that it should have been dealt with privately.
The controversy began after Manchester United's defeat to Arsenal in September when Erik ten Hag told the media that Jadon Sancho was not meeting the professional standards expected of a Manchester United player. The former Ajax coach cited Sancho's poor application in training as the reason for his absence during the Premier League match.
In response, Jadon Sancho took to his social media account to defend himself, accusing his manager of making him a scapegoat for the team's underperformance. This public exchange of words caught the attention of the football world.
John Mikel Obi, reflecting on the situation, stated, "Everybody is going about Sancho not apologizing, I have a different view on that. My view is that the manager should not have said what he said in public." He continued, "When things like this happened before during Ferguson's time, it was dealt with inside the dressing room."
Mikel Obi pointed out that previous Manchester United managers, like Sir Alex Ferguson, would handle such issues internally, rather than airing them in public. He emphasized the importance of resolving such matters behind closed doors, especially when dealing with young players like Jadon Sancho.
The former midfielder also brought up the involvement of former Manchester United captain John Terry in similar situations during his career. According to Mikel Obi, Terry would mediate between the manager and the player to find a solution that benefits both the team and the player's development.
Mikel Obi concluded by expressing his hope that the situation could be resolved to get Jadon Sancho back on the pitch. He acknowledged Sancho's potential and the importance of nurturing young talent. However, if a resolution cannot be reached, he suggested that Sancho might have to consider moving on from Manchester United.
The public disagreement between the manager and the player has raised questions about the handling of internal issues in football clubs, highlighting the importance of communication and discretion in resolving conflicts.
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