Erik ten Hag dropped Wout Weghorst for Manchester United’s match against Brentford because Jadon Sancho offers more creativity than the Dutch striker.
Weghorst has enjoyed a long run in the side since joining United on loan from Burnley in January, but he started the night on the substitutes’ bench on Wednesday. The Netherlands international has contributed just two goals and one assist in 19 appearances in all competitions for United.
United are desperate for a win following a poor run which has seen them lose 7-0 to Liverpool, draw 0-0 with Southampton and lose 2-0 to Newcastle in their last three league games. Ten Hag switched things around up front in an effort to stop United failing to score in four straight league games for the first time since April 1989.
Sancho was brought in for Weghorst, with Marcus Rashford, Antony and Bruno Fernandes retaining their places in attack. The shift saw Rashford move up front, with Fernandes operating centrally and Antony and Sancho on the wings.
Asked pre-match by MUTV what Sancho would bring to the team, Ten Hag replied: "Creativity. Jadon is making good progress since he came back - he can play the final pass, have an action one-on-one, he has movement in behind and can score goals.”
He added: "There is not a need to change a lot because we are doing well, but I think we have to reflect on Sunday. We need full discipline in defending, also in offensive challenges and duels in order to break a compact opponent."
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Ten Hag made similar points to Sky Sports. On his line-up, he said: “Jadon is [making] good progress. He is creative and I think that's what we need. They can defend in the low block when it is really compact in that block.
"We need players who can create something with dribbles, with movements, with moments and thinking outside of the box. Jadon can do it, Antony dos Santos, Marcus and also Marcel Sabitzer as well.”
The snub of Weghorst will come as little surprise to Jamie Carragher, who was disparaging about his talents during a feisty segment on Monday Night Football with Gary Neville. Carragher and Neville become embroiled in a debate about whether Weghorst or Cristiano Ronaldo would offer more to the side.
Carragher was quick to criticise Neville for being indecisive on the issue, despite his opinion that Ronaldo is the greatest player of all time. He said: "You said they shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath, you put it up!"
While Weghorst has struggled for goals, his all-round game is why Ten Hag was keen to bring him in from Burnley mid-season after Ronaldo left under a cloud for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Weghorst has played as a central striker and in a more withdrawn role so far this season, but his finishing ability has frequently been criticised.
