Erik ten Hag issues clear warning to two Man Utd players in first press conference since Jadon Sancho exit

Erik ten Hag has sent a clear warning to two Manchester United players in his first press conference since Jadon Sancho's loan move to Borussia Dortmund.

The United boss has been speaking ahead of his side's home Premier League fixture against Tottenham on Sunday.

The focus of the press conference was inevitably on Sancho, who departed United on loan on Thursday having been exiled from the first team for the past four months.

That exile began due to a public dispute between Ten Hag and the winger over his training performances ahead of September's 3-1 defeat to Arsenal.

In Sancho's absence, Antony has failed to hit the heights expected of him since his £100 million arrival from Ajax in the summer of 2022.

And in his press conference, Ten Hag challenged the Brazilian to improve his output in front of goal, while claiming that the player's 'off field issues' have 'stopped him from playing'.

Getty

He said (quotes via Manchester Evening News): "I can explain I think [the poor run of form], it's very simple. His off field issues stop him playing.

"First year was okay, the pre-season was very okay, first four games were very good. I've seen the game against Spurs [a 1-0 defeat in August] back, and he played a very good game.

"But from the moment he was out and then he came back and he didn't deliver the performance you should expect from him and he can do so much better."

In September, United announced that Antony would be taking a mutually agreed 'period of absence' from the first team.

That decision was announced after he was accused of assault and domestic violence by his ex-girlfriend, Gabriela Cavallin, with Greater Manchester Police and police in Sao Paulo subsequently launching investigations into the allegations. Antony has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

United announced that Antony would not return to the club for a period of time after September's international break in order to 'address the allegations against him'. He subsequently returned to England at the beginning of October, having missed five matches.

Meanwhile, in his press conference, Ten Hag also confirmed that forward Anthony Martial, who has missed the last six games through injury, is still not fit enough to return to action.

Getty

And the Dutchman warned Martial that it is 'his job as well' to make sure he is fit enough to play.

"He's not fit," he stated.

"We want the players to be fit, and in this moment he is not. We have to make him fit - it's his job as well."