Jadon Sancho showed the swagger and arrogance of old in a stunning performance in the Champions League semi-final.
That was the view of Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves after Borussia Dortmund beat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the first leg.
The 24-year-old had the stats to back up the praise too having completed 12 dribbles in the match, which is more than any other player has managed this season in the competition.
It is also the most by an English player in the Champions League since Opta’s records began in the 2003/04 season.
It was also the most achieved in a Champions League semi-final since Lionel Messi played against Manchester United in 2008.
Sancho is still on loan at Dortmund from United, following a high profile fall-out with manager Erik ten Hag.
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His confidence was on the floor, but now at the German side he is showing why the Red Devils paid £73million for him three years ago.
Speaking on TNT Sport, Ferdinand said: “I saw cage football Sancho tonight. This is the kid who grew up playing in cages and had that arrogance and that little bit of swagger.
“I’ve been sitting here saying ‘it’s there, but I haven’t seen it’.”
When asked if there was a difference because the pressure might be less at Dortmund, Hargreaves said: “I’ve played in Champions League semi-finals, the shirt is heavy no matter what team you are playing for.
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“That deserves all praise. Any haters out there can hate and say he didn’t do it consistently. He outperformed the best player in the world today in Kylian Mbappe and that deserves a lot of praise.
“I know he’s been in spaces where he’s not been at his best, but that today was impressive.”
Ferdinand also wanted to know exactly what happened at United and why they never managed to get the best out of him.
Ferdinand said: “I don’t think we’ll see anything else. He’s in the groove, once sports people are in the grove they can churn it out.
“We will see all of the people on social media lap it up and rightly so.
“I hate to go back, but I want to know what happened at Manchester United. Why didn’t it go well there?”
He continued: “That’s what the frustration used to be at Man United, he wasn’t doing that what he did today. Beating people and facing a defender up and going past them.
“The physicality of the Premier League, was that an issue? I don’t know.
“Only Jadon can tell us that, but you have to look at the way he played in a Champions League semi-final. You can’t devalue that.”
News Summary:
- ‘Cage football’ Jadon Sancho is back and he outshines Kylian Mbappe as Rio Ferdinand asks: ‘What happened at Manchester United?’
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