Erik ten Hag has suggested some players can't handle the pressure of representing Manchester United but insists signing for the club is still "the best challenge" for any footballer.
Ten Hag has sanctioned Donny van Beek's loan move to Eintracht Frankfurt in the January window while Jadon Sancho is set to return to former club Borussia Dortmund, also on loan.
Van de Beek was on a Ballon d'Or shortlist before his £35m move from Ajax in 2020 and Sancho was one of the most promising young players in Europe when he arrived in a £73m deal from Dortmund in 2021.
Ten Hag, however, insists it's not always the club's fault when high-profile signings don't work out.
"That is always on those players and how much confidence you have in your capabilities but I can tell you one thing; the Premier League is tough," said Ten Hag.
"Man United; that is tough to play there because it's easier to play in almost any other team than Man United because the pressure is that high, always. You have to deal with that.
"But if you have confidence in yourself, this is the best challenge and this is definitely the best club you want to be at as a player. It depends from player to player, and it depends especially on the character of the player, their personality."
Sancho's dip in form since his transfer to Old Trafford two-and-a-half years ago has seen the 23-year-old -- exiled at United for the four months following a public fall-out with Ten Hag -- lose his place in the England squad while Van de Beek was never able to win a regular place in midfield.
Van de Beek excelled under Ten Hag in a team which reached the Champions League semifinals in 2019 but the United manager said a series of injuries meant he was never able to reach the same level at Old Traffor"He has had many injuries, first of all," said Ten Hag.
"I worked with him for two years [at United] and before he was under different managers here. He had a loan before as well. Actually, from the first moment I came in here at Manchester United, he wasn't the player he was at Ajax because he was injured.
"So many times he was not available and then he struggled for a long time to recover from that injury. That is probably the main reason why he was not playing.
"We decided for a loan in the summer but it didn't come and then his opportunities are few because also we make appointments and we make agreements with players and contract players in that position. The competition was high."
Man City approach Burnley over goalkeeper TraffordManchester City have reportedly made formal contact with Burnley to discuss the potential return of their former academy graduate James Trafford. The 22-year-old goalkeeper, currently at Turf Moor, is the subject of renewed interest from his boyhood club just two years after being sold.West Ham could offload Alvarez this summerLess than a year befo...
Jadon Sancho's transfer at Manchester United may go down as one of the most underwhelming ever.He arrived in 2021 for £73 million, making him Manchester United's fifth-most expensive signing ever, fresh off the back of a brace in the DFB-Pokal final, and was widely regarded as one of the best wingers in the world.But we have never seen the best of Sancho in England as struggles with disciplin...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Man United are monitoring Nicolas Jackson Arsenal & Sporting CP now Mbeumo waiting for Manchester United to agree on the transfer fee with Brentford. lol CUCURELLA Trophy won by London Clubs this season Joao Pedro replies to an Arsenal fan who asked him to come to Arsena! Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Justtoonit, o...
Ex-Liverpool star Oxlade-Chamberlain's Besiktas deal torn upEx-Arsenal and Liverpool star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's deal with Besiktas has been terminated, setting up the player's return to the Premier League.As per Yeni Safak, Besiktas have terminated Oxlade-Chamberlain's deal, as he was informed he would not be part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's plans going forward. The midfielder struggled with inj...
Man Utd continue to push for Bryan Mbeumo's signitureManchester United's transfer dealings have hit a speed bump, with Matheus Cunha being their only significant summer acquisition after his £60million move from Wolves earlier in the season.Their sights are now set on Bryan Mbeumo, who has been turning heads at Brentford, but two offers for the forward have been knocked back and a third bid i...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Man Utd have reached an agreement to sign Byran Mbeumo Who do you think will get there first? Who do you think will get there first? (Part 2) lol Man Utd know what they need this summer Joao Pedro vs Havertz Arne Slot and Alexander Isak spotted at Coldplay concert… Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Justtoonit, Bleac...
Multiple sources close to the situation have informed CaughtOffside that Chelsea recently held "new talks" with Eze's camp, after also speaking with the player last summer.Chelsea didn't advance their pursuit of Eze on that occasion, but it now seems the Blues have expressed a clear intent to rival Arsenal for him in this transfer window.Our source told us: "Chelsea recently held new talks with th...
Grealish, 29, looks set for a move away from the Etihad this summer after struggling for minutes last season.Jack Grealish has reportedly agreed to train away from the rest of the Man City teamThe winger has been unable to tie down a place as a regular starter under Pep Guardiola in recent seasons and started just seven Premier League games last term.While Guardiola chose to leave Grealish out of ...
The Reds are open to selling Nunez, but are sticking to their asking price of €70m, sources close to the situation have informed CaughtOffside.Nunez has struggled to find his best form at Liverpool, but he's not been short of suitors this summer as clubs still view him as someone with the potential to succeed outside of the Premier League.Sources have confirmed to CaughtOffside that the "str...
Al Ain FC v Juventus FC: Group G - FIFA Club World Cup 2025The veteran keeper, who won Euro 2016 with Portugal, has played for Sporting CP, AS Roma, Wolverhampton, Atalanta, and Al AinAl Ain FC v Juventus FC: Group G - FIFA Club World Cup 2025WHAT HAPPENED?After missing out on Keylor Navas, Pumas UNAM are turning their attention to veteran Portuguese goalkeeper Rui Patricio, who famously helped Po...
- 1 Brooklyn Beckham's ex inspires Palmer as Chelsea crush PSG
- 2 Spurs get huge lift in Morgan Gibbs-White row
- 3 Model skips Lamine Yamal's party over 'weird demands'
- 4 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 5 Jude Bellingham finally undergoes surgery on recurrent dislocated shoulder injury as Real Madrid confirm successful procedure for England star ahead of long layoff
- 6 Noni Madueke parties at Wireless with Jadon Sancho
- 7 Xabi Alonso sends warning to Real Madrid stars after PSG thrashing
- 8 Chelsea star’s stunning model Wag captured 'best UFO footage ever'
- 9 Man United ace Alejandro Garnacho rejects Cristiano Ronaldo reunion
- 10 Daily Laugh - Watch and remember the kids