Jadon Sancho took a little while to get going at Manchester United, but when he reflects on his first season at the club, he will be quietly pleased with the strides he has made.
Even if the team’s results may not be what he expected or hoped for, Sancho is growing into his role in the team and he has done it the hard way, which makes his success all the more satisfying.
Sancho played a key role in Manchester United’s win over Tottenham, supplying Cristiano Ronaldo with the pass for his second goal which restored the team’s lead before half-time.
With Bruno Fernandes out, United not only needed Fernandes, they depended on him. He gladly took on responsibility as chief creator, helping the team open up Tottenham’s backline.
Sancho ended the game with four chances created in total, more than any player on the pitch.
He did this in an efficient manner, completing 90 per cent of his passes, while completing two dribbles and having one shot on target. This was one of his best games yet in a United shirt.
Rangnick impressed
Speaking to the club website, Ralf Rangnick said: “Jadon Sancho is now getting closer to the Jadon Sancho I’ve known from Germany. In the end it’s all about confidence. Game time, confidence. Confidence, game time. He was performing at a very high level.
“The club paid quite a few pounds for him in order to lure him away from Borussia Dortmund and if you pay that amount of money in a transfer fee for a player, he should perform on this kind of level.
“At the end, they are all human beings. The mere fact he cost a lot of money does not mean that he is playing at that level to start with.
“He told me that of course it was a problem for him to get adjusted to the intensity of the league, to the physicality of the league. Now he has managed to do that. I’m happy to see him play at that kind of level right now.”
Sancho is growing into his role
Over the last two months especially, Sancho is finding his feet. He has four goals and four assists in all competitions and should end the season with his numbers pumped up further.
While on the basis of numbers alone, Sancho’s figures are not eye-popping, it is notable how many of these have come in important matches.
He has a goal against Chelsea and Manchester City, an assist against Tottenham, and two assists in the derby with Leeds. He also played the pass which led to United winning a penalty against Arsenal back in December, and struck an impressive goal away at Villarreal.
It shows character to produce in these big moments, and Sancho is laying the foundations for an impressive Manchester United career ahead.
The money spent to secure his signature (£73 million) was a lot, and yet, there is a chance he could make this fee go onto look like a bargain.
If Sancho can keep on delivering strong performances and influencing big games, and link up well with whichever striker United sign in the summer, then the investment in his signature will continue to look shrewd and worth the wait.
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