Jadon Sancho is getting regular minutes at Chelsea.Jadon Sancho is getting regular minutes at Chelsea.
Jadon Sancho is getting regular minutes at Chelsea. | Getty Images
Manchester United star Jadon Sancho has been a regular, if not a shining star, at Chelsea this season.
Chelsea winger Jadon Sancho has come under criticism for some of his Stamford Bridge showings at times this year but the on loan Manchester United man has maintained the backing of Blues boss Enzo Maresca.
The 25-year-old has fallen out of favour at Old Trafford and made the move to the capital this season on a temporary basis in search of more game time. Sancho has gotten that under Maresca with 29 appearances across all competitions.
However, the player has managed just two Premier League goals and five top flight assists. Former Chelsea and Arsenal man Emmanuel Petit has criticised that output and labelled the star as not good enough to star at Stamford Bridge.
Emmanuel Petit: Jadon Sancho has not shown quality to stay at Chelsea
Petit told Poker Firma: “I won't say that he’s not good enough for the Premier League because that reminds me of the likes of Kevin De Bruyne. He was at Chelsea and then things didn't go well for him, he returned to Germany and then came back. We all know what happened with him at Man City.
“This question is the same for so many Manchester United players. I think some of them have qualities, but they don't have the confidence. It's been a mess at the club over there and for Sancho, I think he might be affected by the club’s struggles off the pitch. I think there are questions about his weight, sometimes, and his ability to fight mentally. And this is something he has to learn, especially when you play for top clubs.
“At the moment, I won't say he doesn’t have the talent to play for the top clubs in the Premier League. But who knows in the future, things can change very quickly. But at the moment, he hasn’t shown the quality to stay at Chelsea, and he hasn’t shown the quality to even be at Manchester United, and that’s really something because they’re having a rotten season.”
Enzo Maresca backs Man Utd loanee
Speaking in January, Maresca praised Sancho and went as far as to suggest the Manchester United loanee was exceeding expectations in west London. He told the club website: “For me he’s doing very well.
“I am quite surprised with Jadon, because I knew Jadon already [from seeing him at his previous clubs] and I know what I expected from him, but in terms of being consistent, he’s doing very well. Apart from a short part of the season when he had some problems, when he was out ill, then for the rest he has been very good.
“I expected him to do well, but for all the players doing well for a long period is not easy, and he has been doing well for a long period already. He’s doing well, now he just needs to continue going in that way.”
In other news, Chelsea fans won’t be happy with the Premier League announcement for Tottenham Hotspur.