“Outrageous”, “rejuvenated” and “arrogant” – Jadon Sancho was the talk of the Champions League on Wednesday night.
The Manchester United loanee raced past Paris St-Germain defenders time and time again as Borussia Dortmund took a slender 1-0 lead in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals and left many Man Utd fans asking why their club didn’t I was able to make the most of it. of the attacker.
The 24-year-old completed more half-time dribbles in front of Dortmund’s noisy ‘Yellow Wall’ on Wednesday than in any of his 58 Premier League appearances, as he showed signs of being the player United paid Dortmund £ 73 million for July 2021.
His high-profile move to Old Trafford saw him struggle for form and consistency, scoring 12 goals in 82 appearances and falling out with manager Erik ten Hag.
Dortmund fans, however, are enjoying a different player since his return on loan in January – a player who could help their team reach the Champions League final against Real Madrid or Bayern Munich at Wembley Stadium. .
Former Scotland striker Ally McCoist told TNT Sports: “Sancho looks like a totally different player. His body language is like that of the player Man Utd bought.
“You can tell a lot from his body language and he wants to take people and play. He certainly looks rejuvenated.
“It’s confidence, he’s regained his charm. He is in an environment where he is liked and he looks like a different football player.”
Sancho finished the match with 12 successful dribbles, the most completed by a player in a Champions League match this season.
It was also the highest number of goals by a player in a Champions League semi-final since Lionel Messi, in April 2008, against Man Utd (16) and the highest number recorded in the competition by an Englishman.
With performances like this, it’s no wonder Dortmund want Sancho to stay next season.
But for the loan to be repeated next season, or to become a permanent transfer, a significant commitment from all parties will be required.
Dortmund cannot match the salary Sancho receives at United. But United, under intense pressure to comply with Premier League Profit and Sustainability rules, cannot simply hand over an asset of this size.
It is clear that there is no future for Sancho at Old Trafford if Ten Hag remains as manager. But he may not, which opens up the possibility of a return to United, even if the feeling persists that he will play elsewhere next season.
Before that, however, Sancho and Dortmund have a job to do, with PSG still tied, trailing 1-0 after a frantic first leg.
It could have been much better for the hosts if top scorer Niclas Fullkrug had converted some golden opportunities created by Sancho in the second half, although PSG are also wondering how they failed to score after countless chances.
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand said: “Jadon was making the players dance, he was a joke. We haven’t seen that since he was at Dortmund. What I say today more than anything, was Sancho’s cage football. This is the kid who grew up on football with a bit of swagger.
“He’s the groove now. He will leave the field on a high note. But I want to know what happened at Man Utd, why he didn’t do well there. The positive point for Man Utd is that a lot of teams will want him now.”
Former United midfielder Owen Hargreaves added: “Jadon was outrageous, it just shows the talent he has.
“His body language suggests he believes it. There was a bit of arrogance. At United he didn’t compromise people, but Jadon answered a lot of questions. He outperformed every player on the field and there are world-class players.
“He surpassed the best player in the world, Kylian Mbappe. He looked fitter, sharper and more confident.”
For Sancho, however, there was no getting carried away as he dismissed any post-match doubts about his future.
He told CBS: “When we have our fans, we are very motivated from the beginning. But this tie is not over, we still have to go to Paris and do the work.
“I appreciate all the praise, but I take it game by game. Performances like today, I hope they can continue.
“I came here when I was 17, they gave me the opportunity to play professional football and I’m really happy to be welcomed back and I’m focused on the present now.”
