Man Utd signed hot wunderkind Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund for a sumptuous fee last summer, but the lad has yet to fire from all cylinders since the transfer.<\/p>\n
Notably, although not altogether inexcusably, there were plenty of caveats to Jadon Sancho’s difficult first season at Manchester United with loads of probable reasons accounting for hisawkward, uneasy passage.<\/p>\n
Having undergone a youth career with its fair share of highs and lows, Sancho finally found his sanctum for four years at Borussia Dortmund as there’s hardly a better place for a player to develop between the ages of 17 and 21. The German club is acclaimed in the continent for giving youth its chance, besides Bundesliga defences being known to be susceptible and fairly accommodating at times when the opportunities avail themselves.<\/p>\n
Invariably too, Sancho is a player that has never been short of confidence, talent nor abilities, as his 38 goals in 82 Dortmund starts from the wing would adequately testify to. For that matter, lacking talent, he wouldn\u2019t be able to break into the England setup as a teenager, or earn a \u00a373million transfer to Old Trafford as a 21-year-old for that matter.<\/p>\n
As for the caveats impinging on his maiden year at Old Trafford, he was subjected to the uncertainties, not to mention discomfort, of having to play under under two managers. It would also not be out of line to add to that the shock of seeing the first, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the man who wanted to sign him for so long, given the sack by November \u2014 an occurrence that might well have been pretty unsettling for Sancho.<\/p>\n
However, despite all that, kudos to the lad for he appeared to hit his stride in the early days of the Ralf Rangnick tenure although he was finally sidelined with tonsillitis, after a family bereavement a few weeks earlier.<\/p>\n
Regardless of all that\u2019s transpired, there’s a strong feeling prevailing around the former Manchester City academy man that he will thrive under new boss Erik ten Hag in the coming season and beyond. Few, if any, are the United fans expressing concerns about Sancho the way they are amped up about Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, for example, two forwards who’ve had far more time and many more opportunities to get things sorted out long before Sancho\u2019s arrival.<\/p>\n
Ten Hag certainly possesses the right tools to get Sancho\u2019s cylinders firing in unison again, that’s for sure. The fact United are targeting a natural right-wing in Ajax star Antony suggests the new Dutch coach wants to keep Sancho on the left, where he played his best football for the club last season.<\/p>\n
Ten Hag favors a positive attacking approach to the game which should be just right up Sancho\u2019s alley, as should his desire to play a 4-3-3 formation that ought to allow the wide players plenty of scope for attacking endeavor. Sancho thrived with a similar approach at Dortmund.<\/p>\n
What Sancho needs most from his new surroundings is stability, having had a career as a youngster quickly escalating from youth prodigy at Watford and Man City to bona fide world-class star at Dortmund, thanks also in large part to the conducive environment in Germany. Stability is the operative word here, something United clearly had been, and still is, lacking in large part.<\/p>\n
Hence, it\u2019s certainly no surprise that Sancho struggled at United last season, despite the expectation and excitement that came with his signing. Changes in management, changes to the playing style due to the fickle-mindedness of his earlier managers and changes to his playing role certainly contributed to an awkward transition year for the talented youngster.<\/p>\n
Hopefully all that’s all gone now as the so-called interim measures are now gone. United are backing Ten Hag long-term and Ten Hag will back Sancho long-term, too. The scrutiny and pressure will remain, but he’s definitely too talented and too good to struggle much longer, or suffer the management of indecisive fools.<\/p>\n
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