'More easy to play in any other team' - Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag explains why Jadon Sancho & Donny van de Beek have failed to live up to expectations at Old Trafford

As United prepare for their FA Cup match against Wigan on Monday - which happens to be their only realistic chance of winning a trophy this season - Ten Hag was asked if Van de Beek's troubles and Sancho's inability to perform would deter players from joining the Red Devils. The former Ajax manager admitted that playing for United is harder than playing for any other club, as the pair of Sancho and Van de Beek would attest.

"That is always on those players and how much confidence you have in your capabilities," Ten Hag said [via BBC]. "But I can tell you one thing - the Premier League is tough. Man United, that is tough to play there because it's more easy to play in almost any other team than Man United because the pressure is that high always.

"You have to deal with that. But if you have confidence in yourself, this is the best challenge and this is definitely the best club you want to be at as a player. It depends on player to player, and it depends especially on the character of the player, their personality."

Van de Beek joined the Premier League giants in 2020 after a scintillating season for Ajax as they won both domestic titles and made it to the Champions League semi-finals. However, life after the move did not turn out to be as fruitful as he had hoped. The Dutch midfielder has now moved on loan to German side Eintracht Frankfurt as he looks to resurrect his career.

With the new year already underway, Ten Hag will be looking to leave their terrible year behind and begin afresh, starting with a trip to Wigan Athletic in the third round of the FA Cup on Monday.