What the German media are saying about Jadon Sancho after Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid

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Jadon Sancho featured from the off as Borussia Dortmund took on Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

As Manchester United sit 11 points off the Champions League spaces in the Premier League with seven matches to go this season, Manchester United loanee Sancho is currently in the starting XI in a quarter-final on Europe’s biggest stage.

It is somewhat laughable from a Manchester United perspective that a player Erik ten Hag shunned is enjoying this success. It sums up our luck at times.

But is he really thriving again back in Germany? Here’s what the German media are saying about the £73m winger after Wednesday’s clash.

Atletico Madrid 2 – 1 Borussia Dortmund

Atletico emerged victorious in the first leg at the Metropolitano, with Diego Simeone’s side coming out 2-1 winners.

Simeone’s rampant Spaniards came out hungry and found themselves in front after four minutes when Rodrigo De Paul seized upon a hospital pass from Chelsea loanee Ian Maatsen.

Their dominance showed once more in the first half. They made it 2-0 when Samuel Lino slotted home after a genius Antoine Griezmann pass.

A glimmer of hope for the second leg was provided by Sebastien Haller. The AFCON winner popped up in the 81st minute to give the Black and Yellow a vital lifeline heading into the second leg.

How Jadon Sancho fared…

But Manchester United fans will be interested in one thing – how Sancho got on. Well, mixed reviews.

German media outlet Bild was heavily critical of Sancho’s performances – offering him a measly 4/10. They put:

‘Dribbling hard too often. Actually, Dortmund brought him in exactly for these big performances, but the bottom line is that they didn’t manage enough after convincing games before. Grade 4.’

BVB Buzz actually were huge fans of the Red Devils loanee – stating that he was the ‘best player in the first half’. However, this may not have been too difficult given Dortmund’s performance.

‘Sancho was Borussia Dortmund’s best player in the first half, showing glimpses of his quality while drifting in from the wing. He continued to impress early in the second half and set the tone for BVB’s fightback with his quick feet and dribbling.’

Sancho stats vs Atletico Madrid

Hope for Jadon Sancho in the second leg?

Haller’s goal has still given Sancho hope he can become the first Manchester United player to reach a Champions League final in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

Dortmund at home on a Champions League night is an extremely difficult task, and the one-goal margin isn’t exactly breathing space for Atleti.

“Everything remains open,” said Dortmund coach Edin Terzic. “The first 30 minutes were not good enough. Often, at this level, it’s already over if you make so many mistakes. But we didn’t accept that and still managed to show what we’re capable of.”

“We made too many mistakes. In the end, a draw wouldn’t have been undeserved. Now we look forward to what’s coming in six days. Today, we felt what they want and now we know what we have to do at home,” he added.

Hope for Sancho and Dortmund. The tie hangs in the balance for the second leg.