A CURRENT Manchester United coach has lifted the lid on why Jadon Sancho refused to apologise to Erik ten Hag.
Former Blackburn, West Ham and Porto striker Benni McCarthy, 46, works on Ten Hag's coaching staff at Manchester United.
McCarthy claims to have acted as a mentor and a friend to Sancho, who was frozen out by Ten Hag last September.
The winger's Man Utd demise began when he was dropped from their matchday squad for a clash with Arsenal early in the season.
Ten Hag, 54, claimed after the match that Sancho had been axed due to his performances in training.
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Sancho later refuted the allegation on social media, claiming to have been made a "scapegoat" - effectively calling his manager a liar in the process.
He was subsequently made to train on his own, and wasn't even allowed to eat with his team-mates in United's canteen.
With Ten Hag insisting throughout that Sancho would have to apologise in order to be reintegrated, the £73million star held firm - leaving the duo in a stalemate.
In January the 24-year-old returned to former club Borussia Dortmund on loan, for whom he will take on Real Madrid in Saturday night's Champions League final.
Ahead of the match, McCarthy has attempted to shed some light on Sancho's situation at Old Trafford.
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Appearing on South African radio station 947 Joburg, he said: "If you’re from the streets, no one wants to apologise.
"You admit you are not training well, you are lazy, everything you are accused of. Jadon wasn’t going to have that.
"The manager has a strong character and just said that all he wants is an apology. Jadon thought that he had done nothing wrong.
"He didn't see why he had to apologise. Sometimes you have to apologise, because a player will never win against a manager.
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"I spoke to Jadon as a coach, as a mentor, as a friend, and as someone who grew up on the streets and knows the code.
"But Jadon just wasn’t seeing it. He said, 'I ain’t apologising because if I do, I’m apologising for being lazy, always being late, not giving my best – that’s what I’m apologising for'. Those were his reasons.
"I spoke to the manager and I said to him that you know the delicacy, and I think Jadon feels that if he apologises then he's going to be classed as someone who doesn't train hard, doesn't work hard, that everything that was said against him was true."
McCarthy went on to add that the saga "ended up dragging", before claiming that it could have been "easily avoided just by communication".
I learned a lot at Man United working with Erik, he's one of the smartest managers I've known
Benni McCarthy
The South African also revealed that his Man Utd contract his set to expire next month - with his future up in the air amid uncertainty over whether Ten Hag's services will be retained.
He went on to admit: "I don't know if I'm going to stay or leave. I learned a lot at Man United working with Erik, he's one of the smartest managers I've known.
"My contract ends in June. If the club wants me to continue in this role, I would be grateful. That would be great.
"I love my role, I love working for Manchester United, but the desire to be a manager, to be the person in charge is still there."
Prior to working at United, McCarthy managed Cape Town City and AmaZulu in his home country.
Sancho, meanwhile, could be in line to start Saturday's Champions League final.
He has been picked for all six of their knockout matches, including both legs of the semi-final triumph over Paris Saint-Germain.
For Jadon, this is a really great opportunity — he could become a legend forever at Dortmund
Paul Lambert
Speaking to SunSport, former Dortmund Champions League winner Paul Lambert lifted the lid on Sancho's situation.
He said: "It is one of those s*** or bust occasions when you have to go for it.
“For Jadon, this is a really great opportunity — he could become a legend forever at Dortmund.
“After what we did against Juventus, they still call me a “legend” in Dortmund and actually, Jude (Bellingham) used to call me that and I had to politely ask him to stop doing it!
“Jude moved from Dortmund and it has gone so well but that has not been the case for Jadon. He has had a nightmare at United and it would have been tough to go through that.
“Now, he is not getting criticised by fans, media, pundits or his manager.
“Everyone loves him at Dortmund, where he was before.
“He has been excellent and you have to give him some credit. Against Real, Jadon has to try and make a difference. He has got that wee bit of arrogance I like. He sort of says, ‘Give me the ball and I will take it’.
"And if Dortmund can win this game, it would be sensational."
Sancho has scored twice and assisted three times in 14 Bundesliga appearances for Dortmund this term.
He added a further goal in Europe, scoring in the round of 16 victory over PSV Eindhoven.
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