Manchester United’s Premier League opener against Fulham at Old Trafford on August 16, 2024, has been overshadowed by the unexpected omission of Jadon Sancho from the squad. This decision by manager Erik ten Hag has reignited speculation about Sancho’s future at the club, despite recent attempts to reconcile their differences. Ten Hag had previously stated that he had ‘drawn a line’ under their public falling out, saying, ‘This club needs quality players, and Jadon Sancho is certainly one of them’. However, Sancho’s absence from even the substitutes’ bench has raised doubts about his future at Old Trafford.Meanwhile, new signings Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt have been included in the lineup, with Mazraoui set to make his debut in the starting XI. The match marks the beginning of the 2024/2025 Premier League season, with both teams looking to improve on their previous season’s performances. Manchester United finished 8th last season with 60 points, while Fulham ended in 13th place with 47 points.Despite the controversy surrounding Sancho, Ten Hag received a warm welcome from the home fans at Old Trafford. In his pre-match interview, he expressed confidence in the squad and acknowledged the backing of the new owners, which has given him a ‘relaxed demeanour’ after a summer of speculation about his future.As the match kicks off, all eyes will be on how Manchester United performs without Sancho and how new signings like Mazraoui integrate into the team. The outcome of this opener could set the tone for both clubs’ campaigns in the highly competitive 2024/2025 Premier League season.
Key points
- Jadon Sancho has been left out of Manchester United’s squad for their Premier League opener against Fulham, raising questions about his future at the club.
- New signings Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt have been included in the lineup, with Mazraoui set to make his debut.
- The match marks the beginning of the 2024/2025 Premier League season, with both Manchester United and Fulham looking to improve on their previous season’s performances.
Contradictions👾While Erik ten Hag had previously stated that he had ‘drawn a line’ under his differences with Jadon Sancho, the player’s omission from the squad suggests ongoing issues.
👾Despite speculation about Ten Hag’s future over the summer, he received a warm welcome from fans and appeared relaxed in his pre-match interview.
