SUMMARY
- Jadon Sancho had a stellar performance against PSG in the UCL semi-finals.
- However, Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag was vague about Sancho's future in the club.
Jadon Sancho has completely turned his career around at Borussia Dortmund. The player was an ostracized figure at Manchester United, who received little to no game time at the English club
However, his loan move to the Bundesliga has been a blessing since it has helped the 24-year-old regain his long-lost touch and class. One of his greatest performances during the loan spell at Dortmund came during the team’s UEFA Champions League semi-final 2nd leg against Paris Saint Germain.
Jadon Sancho is the first Englishman on @OptaJoe‘s records to complete 11+ take-ons in a single Champions League game.
The last player to complete more in a #UCL semi-final? Lionel Messi against Man Utd in 2008 (16). 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/WiAWnJ0cd2
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 1, 2024
The Englishman was in stellar form in the game, where he glided through the PSG defense with ease. The 24-year-old looked a threat every time he was on the ball, as the PSG defenders had no answers for him. He also broke the record for the most take-ons completed by an Englishman in a UCL game, almost coming close to breaking the record of Lionel Messi.
Thanks to Jadon Sancho and his teammate’s efforts Dortmund took a 1-0 lead over PSG in the first leg. Niklas Fulkrug scored his 16th goal of the season to hand over the win to his side.
Sancho’s splendid performance on the night has, however, invited praises from an unlikely source. And it also looks like that after the PSG match, Sancho’s story at Manchester United is still not over.
Erik ten Hag has a change of heart for Jadon Sancho
The Dutch manager had an infamous fallout with Jadon Sancho that resulted in him leaving the English player out of the squad completely. Sancho was even made to train and eat alone during United’s training sessions as Erik ten Hag believed that the player had a very poor attitude.
But, it seems now that the Dutch tactician has been impressed by Sancho’s professionalism and character at Borussia Dortmund. Erik believes that Sancho had regained his earlier touch and class in the game versus PSG but refused to comment on the player’s Manchester United return.
Ten Hag on Sancho: ‘Yesterday he showed why Manchester United bought him and he showed he represents a high value for Manchester United, which is good. I’m happy for Jadon, for the performance yesterday and we’ll see what is going to happen in the future.’ #mufc
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) May 2, 2024
The Man Utd manager said (via United In Focus), “Yesterday he showed why Manchester United bought him and he showed he represents a high value for Manchester United, which is good. I’m happy for Jadon, for the performance yesterday and we’ll see what is going to happen in the future.”
Jadon Sancho has been an integral part of the Dortmund side since his loan move to the German side in January 2024. The player’s resurgence has even made Erik ten Hag very happy, a man who was once at constant odds with Sancho.
Alessandro Del Piero wants Jadon Sancho to go back to Man Utd
Borussia Dortmund is really keen on keeping Jadon Sancho beyond the summer of 2024. The Englishman has been in stellar form for them and his performances might have just led the team into their first UCL final since the 2013/13 season. Along with Sancho, Dortmund are also eyeing to permanently sign Chelsea loanee Ian Maatsen.
However, Juventus icon Alessandro Del Piero begs to differ from Borussia Dortmund in this regard. The Italian believes that the German side is too small a-side for Jadon Sancho and wants the Englishman to shine at a bigger club such as Manchester United.
He said, “If a player like him can play these kinds of games, with this kind of quality, you need to go to Man United. Next year maybe, one more year, let’s see how he feels, which coach, ok, everything, this kind of player needs to play every year at the top.”
Juventus and Italy legend Alessandro Del Piero believes Jadon Sancho should return to Manchester United 👀 pic.twitter.com/RNpbf0uZGh
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 1, 2024
The Italian doesn’t believe Borussia Dortmund would do justice to the Englishman’s talent. Alessandro Del Piero said, “And Dortmund don’t get me wrong, they deserve to be there, they may go to the final and win the Champions League, but [it would be] something extraordinary for that.”
He adds, “With Man United, they are supposed to go every year. I know they are struggling, but you have to, you want to achieve with the big clubs and this is the destiny of Man United and the destiny of him at some point.”
Del Piero also praised Jadon Sancho’s performances on the night saying that he is dribbling was amazing on the night. It would be interesting to see if Jadon Sancho gets inspired by Alessandro Del Piero’s words or decides to stay at Dortmund altogether.