Manchester United have fallen from grace over the years, and while that decline began before Erik ten Hag was the manager of the club, it feels as though they have hit a new low under the Dutch manager’s Draconian rule.
Several individual standouts at Old Trafford have suffered mightily under the former Ajax coach. Here are the three players who have been hurt the most by ten Hag in the last two seasons.
RW Jadon Sancho
How good Jadon Sancho was before
Before joining Manchester United in the summer 2022 transfer window, Jadon Sancho was arguably the best player in the Bundesliga alongside Bayern Munich’s record-breaking striker Robert Lewandowski – and then his own record-breaking teammate at striker, Erling Haaland.
The former Manchester City prospect helped bring the DFB Pokal to Dortmund with his dazzling dribbling skills, team-first mentality, never-say-die attitude, and consistent ability to create chances for his teammates.
Sancho had 17 goals and 16 assists in the 2019/20 season, standing out as one of the best players at any position or of any age in European football. Both Real Madrid and Barcelona were hot on his heels as a transfer target.
Where Jadon Sancho is under Erik ten Hag
Although Sancho did impress when he did play for Manchester United in his first season, Erik ten Hag only gave him 21 starts and quickly made the England international feel like an unimportant player.
Ten Hag openly clashed with Sancho and consistently antagonized his team’s most accomplished player in recent seasons, to the point where the big-money transfer had to be shipped out on loan to Borussia Dortmund.
The manager’s treatment of Sancho has been one of the greatest failures by any club in the Premier League this season and is a baffling example of a coach overstepping his bounds to squash a mythical “player power” movement.
Future outlook
Back in his most comfortable environment in Dortmund, Jadon Sancho is leading one of the Bundesliga’s most prestigious sides to victory and elevating a team that is deeply flawed and badly craving a superstar following Jude Bellingham’s departure to Real Madrid this past summer.
Sancho is enjoying his football again and is back to his best as a clutch, consistent difference-maker in all phases of wing play. At this point, the situation with Man United is untenable unless if INEOS does the expected by firing Erik ten Hag.
DM Sofyan Amrabat
How good Sofyan Amrabat was before
Acquired on loan from Fiorentina with an option to buy, Sofyan Amrabat was one of the most coveted midfield generals on the transfer market after leading the Viola to the Conference League Final and Morocco to a World Cup semifinal.
Amrabat was right there with the likes of Alexis Mac Allister as one of the gems of the entire tournament, showing the same facilitative on-the-ball play and hard-nosed defending that made him a favorite in Serie A under Vincenzo Italiano.
Where Sofyan Amrabat is under Erik ten Hag
Despite his incredible 2022/23 season, Amrabat has been a seldom-used player under Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, starting just seven matches for the Red Devils.
He has been phased out of the XI and unable to play his favored position in the defensive midfield, making initial passes and cleaning up play like Stanislav Lobotka does for former Serie A opponents Napoli.
Amrabat has been used as an inverted fullback and in all sorts of weird roles. Granted, he hasn’t been all that himself, but ten Hag hasn’t given him a chance to get going in a new environment.
Future outlook
It is almost certain Amrabat will head back to Fiorentina and shine again in Serie A. He is such a talented player and in his prime at 27. Amrabat didn’t fit ten Hag’s planless Man United, but he will land on his feet again and likely join another top club in 2025.
LW Marcus Rashford
How good Marcus Rashford was before
On paper, Marcus Rashford should be going toe-to-toe with rival stars Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland as the absolute best player in the Premier League.
He has never quite reached those heights and has been frustratingly inconsistent for United, but there are times when he does seem to transcend the game, including in big moments.
Rashford’s best season came in 2019/20 when he scored 17 goals with 7 assists, averaging 1.1 key passes, 1.9 dribbles completed, and 1.5 fouls drawn per game.
Where Marcus Rashford is under Erik ten Hag
While Marcus Rashford came close to matching those numbers in 2022/23 with 17 goals and 5 assists, his all-around output and consistency throughout the season were also lacking. Take out a chunk of the middle of the season, and he was the same old Marcus Rashford.
The statement about becoming one of the world’s best one day has been uttered regarding Rashford for several years, and while he showed signs of putting that all together in the middle of the 2022/23 season under ten Hag, he can’t be trusted at this point.
This season, he has been a total disaster, scoring just 7 times in 27 appearances. He barely creates chances for his teammates, not even averaging a key pass per game.
Rasmus Højlund is young and raw, but, if anything, he has been more impressive and consistent than the isolated and frustrated Rashford, who has shown no growth under ten Hag. Honestly, this season, he has taken a big step backwards under this manager.
Future outlook
Manchester United will never want to move on from their prized academy product, given his technical ability and potential. But at 26, the word “potential” no longer carries the same meaning with Rashford.
The England star may need to move on from this club and even this league to be all that he can be. He will likely stay at Old Trafford for another shot with a new, better manager, but it truly feels like he needs to leave the pressure and constraining environment of his country for pastures anew to find himself as a footballer.
The managing editor of The Trivela Effect, Kevin has 15 years of experience in digital media. He has been an editor for NFL Spin Zone, Daily DDT for pro wrestling, Autzen Zoo covering the Oregon Ducks, Musket Fire covering the New England Patriots, The Real Champs covering Real Madrid, Old Juve covering Juventus, Rush The Kop covering Liverpool, and Release The Knappen covering Schalke. His work has been featured in ESPN, Bleacher Report, Yahoo! Sports, NBC Sports, and other outlets. You can contact him at the site’s official Twitter handle @TrivelaEffect or via the site’s official email thetrivelaeffect@gmail.com.