Erik ten Hag’s reaction to Jadon Sancho’s penalty miss in the Community Shield spoke volumes.
United lost 7-6 to Manchester City in the penalty shootout, with both Sancho and Jonny Evans failing to convert their spot kicks.
During regular time, Alejandro Garnacho had given United the lead in the 82nd minute, but Bernardo Silva equalized seven minutes later, with City managing just three shots on target throughout the match.
Though the game itself wasn’t a classic, the penalty shootout added some much-needed drama. Evans sent his penalty comfortably over the bar, while Sancho was denied by a brilliant save from Ederson, who pushed the ball onto the post.
This was Sancho’s first competitive match for United in nearly a year after being sidelined following a public dispute with Ten Hag last September. Sancho was exiled from the first team and did not train with them for several months before being loaned to Borussia Dortmund in January.
Now back at Old Trafford, Sancho and Ten Hag have mended their relationship, and the 24-year-old has been reinstated in the first team. Ten Hag was quick to support Sancho after the miss, emphasizing the winger’s penalty-taking abilities in his post-match interview.
"We have to believe that we can compete with City"
Erik ten Hag reflects on Man Utd's penalty shoot-out loss to Man City
🎙️ @gabrielclarke05 #ITVFootball | #CommunityShield pic.twitter.com/zxFLTikGPi
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Speaking to ITV Sport, Ten Hag said, “Yes, he’s a very good penalty taker, and today he missed. This is part of the game.”
United now turn their focus to their first Premier League match of the season on Friday, where they will host Fulham at Old Trafford. Ten Hag may have two new signings available for that game, as The Athletic’s David Ornstein reports that United have agreed on a double deal to sign defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich for a combined fee of €60 million plus add-ons. Meanwhile, Aaron Wan-Bissaka is reportedly close to moving to West Ham for £15 million.
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