Jadon Sancho has conceded that Erik ten Hag's tough-love approach in the wake of Manchester United's humiliating 4-0 defeat away at Brentford was required to turn things around.
The new Red Devils manager got off to a shaky start with two defeats from his opening two games but has since gone on to win the next three against Liverpool, Southampton and Leicester City respectively. Sancho has been key to that turnaround in form, notching two goals in three of the recent consecutive victories.
Following the dismal showing in West London two games in, Ten Hag reportedly demanded his troops run 13.8km the very next day. That distance is the amount Brentford out-ran their United counterparts on the day, a damning indictment of the visitors' performance.
"We had to do it. We shouldn’t have been losing like that,’ Sancho admitted. "Everyone just took it as extra running and more fitness and after that, we just got on with it.
"We felt we just had to wake up after the Brentford game and we have three wins in a row now, so we have to keep it up and get more wins." Next time up for United is the visit of league leaders Arsenal, who have a remarkable 100 per cent record so far this term.
Sancho is under no illusions as to how difficult that clash will be, adding: " Arsenal have won five in five, we know they are going to be a tough game. The boys need to recover and be ready for Sunday."
United will need their £73million-man to reach the kind of heights he managed against Liverpool and Leicester last month, with one well-taken goal in each of those outings. Sancho looks a different player to the one who struggled to get to grips with life at Old Trafford last season.
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There were actually reports at one stage last campaign that the former Borussia Dortmund star was unhappy with comments made by then-manager Ralf Rangnick over how his poor form at the time may have been due to mental factors.
"It's a different league, a different competition, a more physical league," the German interim coach explained. "Now he's 21, playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world. I think it's also got to do with a lot of the things up here, in his head."
The Times reported at the time that Sancho's team of representatives were not pleased with Rangnick's assessment. Less than a year later and things are drastically different, as players have gone from downbeat and despondent to fighting for the cause as a team.
That is all down to the spirit Ten Hag has instilled in the players, though he will not need reminding there is plenty of work that needs to be done - starting with the game against the Gunners on Sunday.
