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Is Jadon Sancho the Right Fit for Manchester United?

January 12, 2023
byTJ527 views

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Jadon Sancho arrived at Manchester United in 2021 as a highly-rated youngster. The hype was seemingly justified after finishing the previous season as one of the Bundesliga’s top attackers. Alongside the return of Cristiano Ronaldo, he symbolized the Red Devils’ return to the toast of the English top flight.

However, things haven’t been as rosy since that summer of 2021 for United fans. United talisman Ole Gunner Solskjaer was replaced by Erik ten Hag in the trenches. Ronaldo’s second stint at Old Trafford ended in a nightmare after his interview with Piers Morgan saw his contract with the team terminated.

Moreover, Sancho couldn’t live up to the €85 million transfer fee in his debut Premier League campaign. Things improved for him at the start of his second season at Old Trafford. However, OKBET players who follow the Premier League know he’s not a permanent fixture in ten Hag’s XI.

Sancho is no longer viewed as the superstar that commanded such a high price in 2021. However, everyone knows he can thrive in a tough European league. What he needs is to rediscover his form.

This piece will look into the possible reasons for his struggles in his Premier League journey. We’ll also consider what Sancho should do to get back into his peak form that convinced United to splurge for his services.

OKBET Jadon Sancho

Jadon Sancho’s Chaotic Entrance to the Premier League

On paper, Manchester United’s 2020/21 squad featured world-beaters that should give cross-town rivals Manchester City and Liverpool a run for their money. 

The Red Devils last season featured outstanding creators in Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes. The two were supposed to provide opportunities for Sancho to cut through Premier League defenses with his runs.

However, it was noticeable that Sancho struggled to make his mark in his first year at Old Trafford. He finished his maiden Premier League campaign with only three goals and three assists in 29 league appearances. It was a shocking decline to his last season in the Bundesliga, where he bagged eight goals and 11 assists in fewer appearances.

The biggest reason for his lack of production in the league was an evident lack of playmakers who could place him in dangerous situations. There was a wealth of playmaking talent during his final Bundesliga campaign. Marco Reus, Raphael Guerrero, and Giovanni Reyna were some of the players who could provide key passes in dangerous areas.

On the other hand, there was an obvious lack of creativity in United’s midfield. While Pogba topped the team with his nine assists, everyone could tell that the France international was out of sorts with the squad. Pogba made it clear in his Amazon Prime documentary that his second stint at Manchester United ended sourly.

The lack of effective passers was also evident in Sancho’s scouting report for the 2021/22 season. He had 0.19 non-penalty xG per 90, 0.14 assists per 90, and 4.17 shot-creating actions per 90. These were noticeably lower than his 2020/21 campaign numbers.

The World Cup Snub

Sancho actually started the following season right for United. He featured prominently during the team’s preseason matches. He also had two goals in United’s first five league matches.

However, people were quick to point out that his form quickly sunk after he was snubbed out of the England squad during the leadup to the World Cup.

Gareth Southgate chose to go in a different direction regarding the Three Lions’ attack, opting for Arsenal’s Bakayo Saka to line up alongside Harry Kane. While England suffered a quarterfinal exit to France, Saka’s blossoming in the national team setup seemingly justified the head coach’s decision not to call Sancho up.

Ten Hag also revealed that the player wasn’t in his best shape as the league resumed on Boxing Day. The Manchester United manager detailed that the player is on a strict individual training regimen in the Netherlands to get him back on track.

While he doesn’t expect Sancho to return soon, he hopes to see him at full fitness immediately. After Ronaldo’s departure, the squad lacks attacking options. Moreover, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford are the team’s only options up front. The team needs him back as quickly as possible to help fight for a top-four finish.

Will Jadon Sancho Bounce Back?

It’s tough to say whether Jadon Sancho will be able to return to the form that caused Europe’s top clubs to line up for his signature. Everyone can see that his struggles are a mix of physical and mental problems, and the club can only do so much to help him get back on his feet.

It’s up to him whether he’ll get his form back on the right track. Manchester United’s current predicament is the perfect time for him to get back to his winning ways and endear himself to the Red Devils faithful.

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