Jadon Sancho produced an entirely forgettable first-half performance at Anfield which would have felt like something resembling Groundhog Day for any Manchester United fan tuning in to watch Chelsea fall to a 2-1 defeat against Liverpool.
In the waning hours of the summer transfer window, the 24-year-old moved from Old Trafford to Stamford Bridge, with United agreeing to send the troublesome winger to Chelsea on a season-long loan.
Sancho signed a one-year loan with the Blues, with an option to purchase for a price that may range from £20 to £25 million, contingent on Chelsea’s final league position. The condition would not apply if the London team placed lower than 14th in the Premier League; if they placed better, a transfer would be required the following summer, with the fee determined by their ranking.
Given a club the size of Chelsea would be sent into a state of existential crisis should they end the season in 15th place, this arrangement essentially amounted to a permanent deal.
And there were signs in Sancho’s opening displays for his new team that Chelsea may have struck a good deal. But, as United fans have grown all too accustomed to seeing, the positivity the 24-year-old demonstrated has quickly waned, with his ‘performance’ at Anfield pouring cold water on this idea.
Sancho lined up on the left-wing for Enzo Maresca’s side against Liverpool. In forty-five minutes he was utterly anonymous, producing 0 goals, 0 assists, 0 shots, 0 key passes, 0 tackles, 0 interceptions, 0 dribbles and 0 successful duels, while losing the ball 7 times (Sofa Score).
At half-time, Maresca felt he had no other choice than to hook Sancho, replacing the winger with Pedro Neto, who was far more impressive on the left-wing than his teammate in the second half.
“Tactical”, the Italian manager responded when asked about the decision to substitute Sancho.
While Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is a brilliant attacking force, he is a defender who opposition wingers should always feel confident of finding some joy against, given how often he vacates the defence to drive forward.
Sancho was completely incapable of doing so however, offering a timely reminder of the ineffective performances which plagued his time at Old Trafford. Neto, by comparison, was a livewire who offered far more of a threat with his direct and aggressive style.
While there is certainly the possibility Sancho regains the form which made him so imperious at Dortmund, it feels increasingly unlikely he will do so in English football. The speed and intensity of the Premier League does not lend itself to a player who only thrives with time and space.
Sancho is not the first Bundesliga product who is unable to translate his talents outside of Germany, nor will he be the last. It will just be interesting to see how the 24-year-old responds to the latest manager to choose to omit him in order to improve the team’s performances.
History tells us it does not have a happy ending.
