Benni McCarthy explains Jadon Sancho apology refusal

Manchester United first-team coach Benni McCarthy has revealed why Jadon Sancho was so reluctant to apologise to Erik ten Hag following their public spat earlier in the season.

McCarthy was interviewed on South African radio, making it clear that he would be interested in the vacant job at Kaizer Chiefs, with his contract set to expire at United where he has worked as a coach since 2022.

The South African coach spoke about Sancho being frozen out by Ten Hag after refusing to apologise for an inflammatory social media post in response to the manager’s claims that he was not training at the required level to be picked for United’s trip to Arsenal in the Premier League.

McCarthy explains why Sancho refused to apologise despite his Old Trafford career being on the line.

“I spoke to the manager and I said to him that you know the delicacy,” McCarthy told 947, as cited by The Metro.

“I told him I think Jadon feels that if he apologises then he’s going to be classed as someone who doesn’t train hard, that doesn’t work hard and that everything that was said against him was true. 

“If you are from the streets, no one wants to apologise because then you’re admitting you are not training well, you are lazy, everything you are accused of. 

“Jadon wasn’t going to have that. The manager just said that all he wants is an apology.”

Sancho returned to Borussia Dortmund on loan in January. He will play in the Champions League final on Saturday night against Real Madrid.

The winger’s future is up in the air, like the manager, but Dortmund have expressed an interest in re-signing Sancho on a permanent deal.

McCarthy added: “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”. And those were his reasons.”

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