The Manchester United loanee showcased his brilliance as BVB secured a significant victory over Paris Saint-Germain.
“Jadon Sancho, where have you been for the past two-and-a-half years?” That’s the question on many fans’ lips following his outstanding display for Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
He plagued the Paris Saint-Germain defense from start to finish, exhibiting complete freedom, reminiscent of his consistent performances prior to his £73 million move to Manchester United in 2021. Dortmund secured a 1-0 victory due to a first-half goal by Niclas Fullkrug, but they could have had a more substantial aggregate lead had they capitalized on the numerous opportunities Sancho crafted with his magic on the right flank..
Dortmund’s social media accounts were swift to emphasize Sancho’s impact post-match, stating on platform X: “An apology is owed to him; we were ALWAYS aware of his prowess.” The German club further posted: “Still in awe of Jadon’s STUPENDOUS performance tonight.”
Many had dismissed Sancho prior to Wednesday night, myself among them, and indeed, he warrants an apology. Delivering such a commanding performance on the most prestigious stage is testament to the fact that Sancho is far from done.
Sancho executed 12 dribbles in the match against PSG, the highest in a single Champions League match this season. The last player to surpass this in the competition’s semi-finals was Barcelona’s Lionel Messi with 16 in 2008, and no other English player has achieved more than 11.
There is only one Messi, but Sancho was equally as scintillating on the ball as the prime version of the Argentine maestro. The atmosphere in the 81,000-capacity Signal Iduna Park was electric whenever Sancho picked up the ball, and PSG left-back Nuno Mendes will be left with recurring nightmares after being turned inside out time and time again.
“Jadon was making players dance, he was a joke,” Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand said on TNT Sports. “We haven’t seen that since he was at Dortmund before. What I say today more than anything, that was cage football Sancho. This is the kid who grew up in cage football with that bit of swagger.”
Sancho’s “swagger” once made him one of the most coveted players in European football. However, his form dipped at United, and upon his return to Dortmund on loan, fans only caught fleeting glimpses of his distinctive skills. His unexpectedly bold performance has certainly altered perceptions, just in time for the summer transfer window.
‘Out-performed the best player in the world’
Much of the pre-match discussion has been about Kylian Mbappé, who is determined to bring the long-awaited European Cup to PSG as the ultimate farewell gift before his contract ends. Mbappé netted twice to defeat Barcelona in the quarter-finals and may still face his possible future team, Real Madrid, in the final event.
Mbappe is the ultimate big-game player, with an outstanding record at both club and international level, but he was completely upstaged by Sancho in Germany. Dortmund’s resurgent No.10 had 99 touches compared to Mbappe’s 52, and although the PSG star was unlucky to hit the post with a well-struck side-footed shot early in the second half, he cut a frustrated figure for the majority of the match.
Sancho was far more positive and imaginative on the ball, setting up three big opportunities for his team-mates. The best one came after he got away from Mendes with a clever drop of the shoulder before cutting the ball back for Fullkrug, who blazed over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
Julian Brandt, Marco Reus, and Jadon Sancho were not efficient in converting their scoring opportunities during a game. Despite this, Jadon Sancho had a remarkable performance and was praised for his exceptional skills by Owen Hargreaves, who even compared him favorably to Kylian Mbappe, a renowned world-class player. Hargreaves emphasized that Sancho appeared to be in better physical condition, more sharp, and confident than Mbappe during the match. The text suggests that Sancho has the potential to achieve great success in his career, mentioning other young talents like Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala. It concludes by stating that Sancho needs to consistently deliver such outstanding performances and not just have a one-time exceptional showing. 
