Manchester United’s summer signing, Jadon Sancho has reportedly been training as a wing back according to The Athletic. Sancho has struggled to get any significant game time this season and Solskjaer’s switch to a back three/five formation in recent games makes it even harder for the former Dortmund man to get into the first team. The 3-4-1-2 used against Spurs has only two attackers in the team with no positions for wingers like Sancho. United’s wingbacks are expected to provide the width and this might be the reason behind Sancho training as a wing-back.
We have previously covered the problem with Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s limited attacking output but trying to convert an attacking winger like Sancho who is still very young is not something which is seen very often. Traditionally, attacking wingers as they lose pace in their 30s, tend to switch to playing as a full back like Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia did for Manchester United a few years back.
It remains to be seen if Solskjaer continues to play with a back three/five after the system was dismantled by Guardiola’s Manchester City. United were overwhelmed by City’s fullbacks and the constant switching of the ball from one flank to another. Without a clear cut vision and plan on how Solskjaer wants United to play, it is unfair to expect someone like Sancho to train to play in an unnatural position.
