Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho is finding his feet at Aston Villa after feeling the love from Unai Emery
Aston Villa's Jadon Sancho scored the only goal against Fenerbahce
Aston Villa's Jadon Sancho scored the only goal against Fenerbahce(Image: )
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Jadon Sancho insists that the love Unai Emery is showing him at Aston Villa is helping him slowly return to his best.
The winger scored his first goal for the club in Istanbul on Thursday night, a strike that proved to be the difference against Fenerbahce. Sancho headed past former Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson after being picked out by Matty Cash on the right.
It has been a difficult loan spell for the 25-year-old so far, but he is enjoying his football more than he did at Manchester United, having spent last term on loan at Chelsea.
For the Blues, Sancho featured 31 times in the league and scored three goals to help the club return to the Champions League.
However, a permanent move away from United did not materialise until the end of the summer transfer window, with Villa securing his loan from Old Trafford on deadline day in September.
He has started only two league games and had not scored until now, but he told TNT Sports after the victory in Turkey that Emery has given him the confidence to perform.
"He just keeps on telling me to be positive every time I play. It's nice to have a manager that backs you and obviously believes in you,” Sancho said.
“Every opportunity I get I'm going to try and do 100 per cent and hopefully I can deliver goals more.
“Obviously the manager and the team are helping me to get to my best. Honestly, I know I can do a lot more.
“I'm very hard on myself in that aspect. But again I'm very grateful that I got my first goal for Aston Villa and I hope it continues."
Asked about Villa’s trophy hopes this season, Sancho said: "We're doing well in the league and we're doing well in the Europa League. But we've got to take it game by game, you can never get too ahead of yourself.
“Fenerbahce were a hard opponent today, we knew the crowd were going to be with them.
“It was a tough environment but we stuck to the game plan and got the three points in the end."
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