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Ridiculed Jadon Sancho transfer deal paying off for Chelsea and Enzo Maresca

Just when Chelsea needed it most, Jadon Sancho produced a moment of magic on Sunday evening.

With 17 minutes on the clock at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the hosts winning 2-0, the Blues needed something to get back into the game. Sancho took it upon himself, beating two Spurs defenders before driving the ball low and hard off the post and into the back of the net.

It was a truly game-changing moment; one that Chelsea could look back on at the end of the season as absolutely pivotal to whatever success they enjoy. The 24-year-old scored his second goal in as many games after he opened his Chelsea account in the win at Southampton last week.

Sancho has really come into his own in recent matches. It all started with the win at Heidenheim in the UEFA Conference League, where the Manchester United loanee produced a superb performance to help the Blues win in south Germany.

Then, his cameo appearance in Southampton was one of his best nights in a Chelsea shirt thus far. After being found by Malo Gusto, Sancho powered the ball into the net for his first goal for the club but his performance a few days later against Tottenham - in a much bigger game - was definitely his best yet for the Blues.

With three shots, two of them being on target, two chances created, three duels won, three out of four take-ons completed and 12 touches in the opposition box, Sancho was a threat all evening for Chelsea. Also, the defensive work he and Pedro Neto put in for the visitors did not go unnoticed. Sancho won possession back five times in total for Chelsea.

"Since we started, I've said the reason why Jadon came here is because we think Jadon is going to help us," Enzo Maresca explained post-match. "Unfortunately he had small problems so he was out for a while. Now he is back and the only thing he has to do is continue in the same way. He cannot drop, otherwise he is not going to play.

"His performance and Pedro Neto's, on and off the ball, was very good. Off the ball, they were running, following [Destiny] Udogie and defensively they were very good."

Chelsea signed Sancho on transfer deadline day in the summer on a season-long loan move from Man United. The Blues have an obligation to make the deal permanent next summer for £25million. Despite a modest price, many people ridiculed Chelsea at the time.

Many believed the Blues did not need Sancho and were adding him for the sake of having more players. However, the London-born winger, who has been a Chelsea supporter since being a child, has featured 10 times for the Blues in all competitions, despite missing parts of the season.

Sancho, too, is relishing not only being able to play football on a consistent basis once again after his horrendous time at Old Trafford, but doing it for the club he has always adored. Speaking after the game to Super Sport TV, the winger said: "From day one, they made me feel welcome at Chelsea.

"I know that I have a lot of people to prove wrong. I've been working very hard. Let me say thank you to the staff and the team for believing in me and giving me the opportunity."

What we witnessed from Sancho on Sunday was a throwback to the player we saw during his first spell at Borussia Dortmund. That really exciting, young footballer with the world at his feet.

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