Ian Wright heaps praise on ‘amazing’ Jadon Sancho… and suggests what really went wrong for the Chelsea star at Man United
Ian Wright has issued a gushing assessment of Jadon Sancho’s season so far and offered a theory as to what went wrong for the talented winger at Manchester United.
The former England international traded Old Trafford for Chelsea after a tough spell at the Red Devils which saw him score just 12 goals in 83 matches.
His woes at United were all in stark contrast with his time at Borussia Dortmund where he rose up through the youth ranks before bagging 53 goals and 67 assists for the side in 158 games, lifting the DFB-Pokal and German Super Cup.
After a miserable time under Erik ten Hag in Manchester, the skilful wide man appears to have found his mojo once again, scoring two and setting up five in just 10 appearances for Chelsea since a loan move in the summer.
Indeed his fine performance in a 4-3 win at Tottenham on Sunday, featuring a curling strike into the corner, provided yet another indication that the Blues’ obligation to sign him next summer represents great business.
Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has positioned himself among Sancho’s most avid admirers and told his podcast Wrighty’s House that the 24-year-old has been ‘amazing’ this season.
Jadon Sancho has received praise from Ian Wright after hitting some form for Chelsea of late
He will join the Blues permanently from United in the summer, having struggled at Old Trafford
Ex-Arsenal striker Wright was also shocked to hear Chelsea would only have to pay £25million
He said: ‘I need to give flowers to Jadon Sancho. He was very good [against Tottenham], he was good.
‘He said afterwards about proving people wrong and feeling welcome so he obviously didn’t feel that at the other place, at Man United, probably.
‘Why would he say that otherwise? He didn’t feel like he was at the bosom of a football club that recognised what he can do and gave him the platform to express himself.
‘Even when he went to Dortmund last season he was proving people wrong. I’m just pleased he’s shown since leaving United that in the right environment he is a top player, a top player.’
Sancho had fallen heavily out of favour at Old Trafford by the time he left in the summer and Chelsea managed to negotiate a loan deal which involves an obligation to buy the star in the summer for just £25million.
Wright seemed shocked when someone told him that the Blues were landing the Englishman for such a low fee.
‘Wow, £25m, that is an amazing bargain, an amazing bargain,’ he said.
Sancho got Chelsea back into the game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday after two Marc Cucurella mistakes which gifted opportunities for Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski to fire the home side to a two-goal lead inside the first 20 minutes.
Sancho enjoyed a loan spell at Borussia Dortmund last year after thriving there in the past
Cole Palmer scored two penalties, including one Panenka, in a memorable 4-3 win over Spurs
He also set up Enzo Fernandez’s equaliser after going on a mazy run in Tottenham’s half
The former United man gained a yard of space on the edge of the area before curling home into the corner.
A second-half flurry saw the Blues overturn the deficit and march into a 4-2 lead thanks to two Cole Palmer penalties and an Enzo Fernandez strike, as streams of home supporters left early.
Son Heung-min pulled one back for Spurs in injury time but it was not enough to spare Ange Postecoglou’s blushes, with the Australian manager feeling the pressure at the north London club.
Sancho has come back into manager Enzo Maresca’s thinking, after missing almost a month of action through illness, having settled in nicely upon his arrival.
The 25-year-old was handed his debut as a second-half substitute against Bournemouth and immediately repaid his manager’s faith by assisting Christopher Nkunku’s late winner.
