Jadon Sancho is the hero for Borussia Dortmund after netting a decisive goal in their Champions League tie with PSV Eindhoven.
Jadon Sancho did not play a single minute of the group stages for the Champions League for Manchester United, with the Red Devils crashing out.
Last night he issued a reminder of his talent, when he wants to play, scoring the opening goal as Borussia Dortmund beat PSV 2-0 and 3-1 on aggregate.
Sancho’s strike was a low shot from the edge of the box and it tipped the tie in his team’s favour before they doubled the score in stoppage time.
Owen Hargreaves comments on Jadon Sancho
Jadon Sancho scoring a goal in the Champions League knockout rounds might be a little frustrating to some, fed up with his behaviour at Manchester United, but ultimately it helps the team out.
The strike helped showcase his talent amid a poor run of form, and will help United’s objective of cashing in on him this coming summer.
Former Manchester United ace and ex-Bundesliga star Owen Hargreaves spoke to TNT Sports about Sancho’s display, and discussed the difference between how he played, in comparison to his time at Old Trafford.
He said: “I think when United signed him they thought they were going to get somebody that was going to play wide and take people on and be as a flying winger, but he’s actually better playing a little bit more centrally and we saw that again today.
“Maatsen covered the whole left hand side and really Jadon played quite narrow. And I think he’s at his best when he’s got people that he can link up with. It’s great to see him with that burst of pace.
“Technically, he’s so good and he’s such a good dribbler, but this is where he’s at his best when he’s just kind of linking it and playing one and two touch and I think this Dortmund team play that way, it suits him. Credit the manager Terzic for playing to his strengths.”
Sancho struggled at Manchester United, amid high expectation and the intensity of the Premier League. Simply blaming Erik ten Hag for his problems doesn’t cut it.
Glenn Hoddle points out Jadon Sancho difference
Hargreaves’ co-pundit Glenn Hoddle doubled down on Hargreaves’ analysis, referring to Sancho’s positioning and willingness to drop deep. He pointed out how this was not something he seemed willing to do in a Manchester United shirt.
Hoddle explained: “He’s got his confidence, he’s going to some places where at United he just wouldn’t go. He’s going into awkward places where he’s perhaps gonna get kicked, gonna get marked heavily, but today he enjoyed his game.
“He scored at the weekend. It just shows you what confidence does to a footballer. If you’ve got confidence. You are looking forward to the game.
“You just want the ball, he wanted the ball first and he wanted the ball so many times. He got annoyed if it didn’t come, that’s when you’re confident, that’s when you’re on top of your game.”
Sancho did not complete the game due to injury but it is not thought to be a serious issue which will keep him sidelined for too long.
Hoddle added: “Hopefully that hamstring for him is not going to keep him out too long because I think he’s put a foundation there.”
Whatever happens from here, Sancho has shown his season is not a total write-off. If this performance didn’t attract any new suitors, it should have at least intensified Dortmund’s desire to keep him.
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