GUARDIOLA STILL FRUSTRATED BY JADON SANCHO
Pep Guardiola’s frustrations with Jadon Sancho’s attitude date back long before his high-profile fallout at Manchester United. Now on loan at Chelsea, with a £25 million obligation to buy should they finish 14th or higher in the Premier League, Sancho's career trajectory has been marred by off-field disputes and unfulfilled potential.
Once considered one of Europe’s brightest talents, his £73 million move to United in 2021 has since become a cautionary tale of mismanagement and personal conflict.
Sancho’s struggles at United culminated in a bitter standoff with Erik ten Hag, leading to his exile from the first team and eventual loan return to Borussia Dortmund in January 2024. Despite a promising stint in Germany, he returned to the Premier League with Chelsea this season, yet tensions with his former club remain unresolved. His recent Instagram comment—simply “freedom” alongside prayer and raised hand emojis—under Marcus Rashford’s post, following the latter’s Aston Villa debut, was widely interpreted as a dig at United’s management.
The winger's troubles at United began publicly when Ten Hag cited poor training performances as the reason for his omission from the squad in a September 2023 defeat to Arsenal. Sancho immediately fired back on social media, disputing the claim and suggesting ulterior motives were behind his exclusion. His refusal to apologise led to his demotion to the academy squad, a move that effectively sealed his fate at Old Trafford.
However, Sancho’s history of disputes extends beyond United. As a 17-year-old prospect at Manchester City, he reportedly clashed with the club over contract negotiations, displaying signs of stubbornness that would become a recurring theme. Guardiola, unimpressed by his attitude, left him out of City’s 2017 preseason tour in America. Sancho then failed to attend training sessions, cutting off communication with club staff, which ultimately led to his departure to Dortmund. Reflecting on the situation in 2019, Guardiola remarked: “I don’t know why Sancho left City. He didn’t want to take this challenge, this opportunity to discover if he was able to [break into the first team].”
Benni McCarthy, a first-team coach under Ten Hag, later reinforced concerns over Sancho’s mentality. He claimed the winger refused to apologise to the Dutchman, fearing it would damage his reputation rather than seeing it as a necessary step towards reintegration. This reluctance to take responsibility has been a common criticism throughout Sancho’s career, casting doubt over his long-term prospects at the highest level.
Despite his off-field controversies, Sancho remains a player of immense talent. His return to Dortmund last season saw him rediscover some form, playing a key role in their journey to the Champions League final. However, his performances at Chelsea this season have been mixed, registering just two goals and six assists in 22 appearances. As he looks to rebuild his career at Stamford Bridge, questions remain over whether he can finally put his past disputes behind him and fulfill the potential that once made him one of Europe’s most sought-after young players.