Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag gives instructions to Jadon Sancho (left). Erik ten Hag says Jadon Sancho’s sensational Champions League performance for Borussia Dortmund showed why Manchester United bought him and underlined his “high value” ahead of the summer. Issue date: Thursday May 2, 2024
Jadon Sancho left Manchester United after falling out with Erik ten Hag
Jermain Defoe believes Jadon Sancho produced his best Premier League performance as Chelsea beat Tottenham 4-3 on Saturday, claiming the winger had been "playing with a handbrake" on during his time at Manchester United.
Sancho scored Chelsea's first goal as they came from behind to beat Spurs and former Premier League striker Defoe was hugely impressed with his performance. "I thought he looked really sharp yesterday," Defoe said on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football.
"It's almost like he's been playing with a handbrake [on], you'd see him too many times he'd receive it and it would go back and you're sort of like, 'Just go at people!'. But this is Jadon Sancho, 100 per cent. It's not an easy finish, to be honest, but from that angle, it's a really easy finish."
Chelsea are understood to have an obligation to buy Sancho for around £20-25million next summer provided they finish 14th or higher, with United deciding to cut their losses after he fell out with former boss Erik ten Hag last season.
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With the Blues now up to second after their win over Tottenham, it seems inevitable that Sancho will remain at Stamford Bridge and the 24-year-old will be hoping to build on his impressive display against Spurs.
"Since we started, the reason why Jadon came here is because we think Jadon is going to help us," Blues boss Enzo Maresca said after the game. "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, on and off the ball was very good.
Sancho impressed in Chelsea 4-3 win over Tottenham
"Off the ball, they were running, following Udogie and defensively they were very good. This is what we need." And Sancho seems happy at Stamford Bridge, having produced seven goal contributions in 11 appearances so far.
"From day one, they made me feel welcome at Chelsea," Sancho told Super Sport TV. "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."
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