Louis Saha criticises Jadon Sancho's "mentality" as Manchester United exit looms

Former Manchester United forward Louis Saha has hit out at Jadon Sancho's "mentality" and claimed that the Englishman needs to "fix himself" or run the risk of wasting his career.

The 23-year-old is not currently involved with the first team at Old Trafford, having had a high-profile falling-out with Red Devils head coach Erik ten Hag at the start of September.

Ten Hag said after the Arsenal game earlier this season that Sancho had been left out due to some poor performances in training, but the ex-Manchester City youngster took to social media to insist that was not the case, claiming that he had been made "a scapegoat".

Sancho is said to be refusing to apologise to Ten Hag, which has created a situation where he is likely to leave during the January transfer window in search of pastures new.

Saha has criticised the Englishman for his conduct during his time at Old Trafford, as there have also been reports of him being late for team meetings and training sessions.

© Reuters

"Nobody disputes the fact that Jadon Sancho is a great talent. However, it's obvious that there is something wrong with his mentality," Saha told King Casino Bonus.

"I am not happy with his communication and, no matter where he goes, he'll have to improve that. Sancho needs to realise it's not always managers' fault, and if Tottenham [Hotspur] and Newcastle [United] go for him, they'll have to ask him to change his parameters as they're all wrong at the moment.

"He has to perform and work hard on the training ground. Nobody should ever doubt a player's commitment. Speculating about where he's going to go, I'm afraid the reality is that he has to fix himself.

"Sancho's tenure has been frustrating as you can occasionally see moments of brilliance from him and he's clearly a great player. However, he needs to realise that truly great players are able to deliver in difficult times.

© Reuters

"He's scored some goals, delivered some assists, and showcased some skills, but he hasn't contributed on a consistent basis, nor has he truly contributed to United's rebirth.

"He's a few good games, but that's not enough - especially considering how talented he is. I know it's not easy to be consistent, but that's his job and that's what he signed a contract for.

"I know I'm generalising, but this generation of players need to get their mindset right. They need to perform for the fans and they need to accept the frustration when it's not going well. That's my take on it."

Sancho has only played 76 minutes of football for Man United this season, appearing off the bench in their first three Premier League games of the campaign.

The forward has another three years left to run on his contract at Old Trafford, and it is believed that he will leave on loan in January rather than permanently due to the complex nature of winter business.