'Erik ten Hag's comments killed Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho at Man Utd'

EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Liverpool star Jose Enrique opened up on Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo and how they ended up butting heads with Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag

Posted Tuesday, December 26, 2023 by Dailystar.co.uk

Former Liverpool star Jose Enrique claimed that Erik ten Hag's comments about Jadon Sancho "killed" the Manchester United star.

The 23-year-old has played just 76 minutes of action this season and hasn't featured for the Premier League club since his 30-minute cameo against Nottingham Forest on August 26.

The England ace was banished from all first-team activities from Man United after engaging in a public row with his manager where he accused the Dutchman of lying regarding his omission from the squad that was defeated 3-1 to Arsenal in September earlier this season.

During his post-match interview, the 53-year-old said Sancho's poor training performances led to his exclusion from the matchday squad which was fiercely rejected by the former Borussia Dortmund playmaker who took to social media as he wrote: "Please don't believe everything you read! I will not allow people saying things that is completely untrue.

"I have conducted myself in training very well this week. I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won't go into. I have been a scapegoat for a long time which isn't fair!" His refusal to apologise to Ten Hag has led to his exile with many suggesting his career in Manchester is all but over.

Enrique - who played for Liverpool for five years - said the ex-Ajax boss was wrong for calling out Sancho publicly during an exclusive interview with Daily Star Sport. "It's wrong what Ten Hag said in the press, I think it killed him [Sancho]," the Spaniard claimed. Ten Hag has faced criticism for his man-management style as he also butted heads with Cristiano Ronaldo during his second stint in Manchester.

On Ten Hag's feud with Ronaldo, Enrique had praise for the Dutchman as he said: "I think [Ten Hag's] comments about Cristiano killed him. The manager handled the situation really well in what was a much bigger issue because he's f***ing Cristiano Ronaldo."

Nevertheless, Enrique wasn't a fan of the public dressing down of Sancho and added that the situation should have been kept private. "But with him going in the press and saying what he said [about Sancho] I don't think it was good. I think these sorts of things they need to keep private and talk between themselves."