South African football coach Benni McCarthy reveals the major reason why the 24-year-old winger Jadon Sancho who is on loan to Borussia Dortmund refuse to apologise to Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag after social media fallout

Manchester United coach Benni McCarthy has unveiled the real reason Jadon Sancho refused to apologize to Erik ten Hag earlier this season.

Sancho, 24, will play in the Champions League final this weekend, but not for Manchester United. Instead, he will don Borussia Dortmund’s colors, having rejoined the German club on loan following his exclusion from Manchester United’s first team. This decision came after a controversial social media post in September, which led to his fallout with Ten Hag.

The issue began when Ten Hag left Sancho out of the squad for a game against Arsenal, citing the player’s poor performance in training. Sancho, however, publicly countered these claims, accusing Ten Hag of making him a scapegoat. Although he later removed the post, Sancho refused to apologize, a condition Ten Hag set for his return to the squad.

In an interview with 947 Joburg, Benni McCarthy, a member of Ten Hag’s coaching staff, offered insight into Sancho’s stance. McCarthy noted, “I explained to the manager the sensitivity of the matter. Jadon felt that apologizing would be akin to admitting he didn’t train hard or work diligently, thereby accepting all the negative accusations.”

McCarthy elaborated on the mindset shaped by Sancho’s background, stating, “Coming from the streets, there’s an unwritten rule—apologizing can be seen as acknowledging laziness or lack of commitment. No one from that background wants to apologize and validate such claims. Jadon wasn’t willing to do that. However, the manager was adamant about the necessity of an apology.”

In his efforts to mediate, McCarthy approached Sancho not only as a coach but also as a mentor and friend, using his own experiences to help Sancho see a different perspective. McCarthy shared, “I told Jadon, as someone familiar with the street code, that sometimes you need to be pragmatic. Yet, Jadon remained firm. He said, ‘I won’t apologize because it would mean admitting to being lazy, to always being late, to not giving my best. That’s not true, and that’s what they want me to apologize for.’”

This situation underscores the complexities in modern football, where player management involves navigating personal pride and public image. Sancho’s refusal to apologize highlights a deeper struggle between upholding personal integrity and meeting professional expectations. As this unfolds, the impact on Sancho’s career and his relationship with Manchester United remains to be seen.