While Enzo Maresca’s first choice team was picked from day one and has evolved pretty slowly over the course of the season so far, Jadon Sancho has a more up-and-down experience than most.
He was slotted into the team almost immediately after arriving on deadline day, and had a decent run as Maresca’s preferred option down the left.
However Pedro Neto’s good form in the Conference League eventually bought the fellow summer arrival a shot, and after a few quiet games in a row Sancho was dropped. Injuries and illness then kept him out for a bit, and Neto established himself down the left while Noni Madueke held down the right.
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Ian Wright talking on Premier League Productions.
Jadon Sancho celebrates his first Chelsea goal. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Stamford Bridge interior, generic.
We suspected Sancho would struggle to get back in after a while out, but then it was Madueke’s turn to face some fading form, and after impressing against Heidenheim in Europe, Sancho got the rare Thursday-Sunday double start and played against Aston Villa two weeks ago.
He scored in that game, and then scored the first goal of Chelsea’s comeback against Tottenham last weekend as he took another major step towards securing that first team faith from Maresca long term.
Jadon Sancho wraps on with his right foot against Spurs. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
Jadon Sancho wraps on with his right foot against Spurs. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
Sancho motivated by desire to prove doubters wrong
After a such a positive contribution to the team, it was a nice moment for the Chelsea website to catch up with Sancho, and he gave some interesting comments in his chat with them:
“I know I have a lot of people to prove wrong and I’m working hard every day in training. Once I get my opportunity I just try to show what I can do, so I’m happy that I scored and we got the three points for the team. I’m just taking it game-by-game and hopefully I can continue this form.”
He’s not wrong – there are plenty of doubters after a tough time for him since his return to England, but he’s doing a great job starting to prove them all wrong.