‘He’s back’ – Erik ten Hag beams as Jadon Sancho scores after hard slog back to Man Utd team and piles praise on winger
ERIK TEN HAG claims "magnificent" match-saver Jadon Sancho has already made it "all the way back" for Manchester United.
Marcus Rashford and then Sancho netted to rescue a 2-2 comeback draw at home to managerless Leeds in the Premier League.
And the usually-dour Dutchman was so impressed with Sancho's goal that he even afforded himself a smile.
The clash with Leeds was Sancho's second game back from the bench as Ten Hag eases him in four months after injury and psychological issues took him out of the fold.
United boss Ten Hag brought on the England winger just before the hour, with the Red Devils trailing to Wilfried Gnonto's sharp first-minute strike and an own goal from Raphael Varane.
The Dutchman said: "I wanted a different dynamic. In that moment we weren't in the game.
"Luckily it succeeded because we scored two goals. Very happy. He's all the way back.
"We know he's a magnificent player. I think consistently he can have a big impact.
"But he has to work hard. It will motivate him to get more. I really enjoyed it, especially for him. It will strengthen him.
"He is in the right direction and if he keeps going with that process he can do even more to really help us to achieve our goals."
Most read in Football
The draw leaves United third, two points behind neighbours City, and lifted Leeds one point above the drop zone.
The two sides now face what Ten Hag believes is a must-win reverse Prem fixture on Sunday at Elland Road.
He told BBC's Match of the Day: "Of course it will encourage us for when we play the second game in a couple of days that if we play our game, we can beat them.
"We have to beat them. But you need composure all the time.
"In the last 20 minutes when it was 2-2 we created so many chances but the finishing was not always that good. We have to be more clinical."
