The Red Devils flop made a bright start to life at Stamford Bridge, but has taken his eye off the ball since the turn of the year
"I enjoy his style of play. The wingers when they get on the ball, he loves them to go one versus one and be direct," Jadon Sancho told Chelsea's when asked why he wanted to play under Enzo Maresca, after sealing a summer move to Stamford Bridge from Manchester United. "We play a lot of one-twos with the 10s and the striker combination plays. It’s very attractive and it’s a style that I play."
You could certainly sense that enjoyment in Sancho's first three games for Chelsea. He registered an assist in each of them and attacked his marker at every opportunity, exuding confidence that had been entirely absent during his miserable spell at Old Trafford.
Despite intense competition for minutes out wide, Sancho soon became a fixture in Maresca's starting XI as Chelsea emerged as surprise early contenders for the Premier League title. Everything was looking rosy again for a player who was once heralded as one of the brightest talents of his generation.
But as has so often been the case with Sancho, he has been unable to build on it. The 24-year-old has reverted to the exasperating misfit he was at United, and is starting to hinder Chelsea in much the same way. The big difference now, though, is that Sancho's Premier League career will be at serious risk if he doesn't wake up – and fast.
Getty Images SportElectrifying start
Sancho was an outcast at United after his public fall-out with Erik ten Hag, but he reminded everyone of his unique qualities after returning to Borussia Dortmund on loan for the second half of the 2023-24 season, playing a key role in the German club's surprise run to the Champions League final. Chelsea fans were treated to the same electrifying version of Sancho between September and December, with his most dazzling display coming in the thrilling 4-3 derby victory at Tottenham.
Spurs took an early two-goal lead in that contest, but Sancho took it upon himself to spark a remarkable comeback, gliding past three players before firing a superb low shot into the far corner to halve the deficit. Sancho created two other clear chances, touched the ball 12 times in the penalty area, and posted an 87 percent pass completion rate, outshining everyone else on the pitch barring two-goal hero Cole Palmer.
"I said since the start that the reason why Jadon came here is because we think that Jadon is going to help us," Maresca said in his post-match press conference. "The only thing he has to do is to continue in the same way. He cannot drop, otherwise he’s not going to play."
AdvertisementGetty Images SportFoot off the gas
Sancho initially heeded his manager's warning, putting in another strong shift as Chelsea beat Brentford 2-1 at Stamford Bridge the following week. But the wheels came off for Maresca's side after that.
The Blues have won just two of their last eight Premier League games, dropping to fourth in the table as a consequence, and Sancho only created 11 chances during that dismal run. Worse still, he's stopped taking the risks that made him so exciting to watch earlier in the campaign.
“He came through the door and showed why I wanted him, the first few games he showed why he should be there, he was running at players, creating chances. But since December, we haven’t seen anything from Jadon. He cannot relax here,” Chelsea legend Jon Obi Mikel said on his podcast last week.
There is no doubt that Sancho has taken his foot off the gas. He suddenly has the same disinterested look on his face that was practically painted on at United, and as Ten Hag found out to his peril, re-motivating him is no easy task.
Getty Images SportHumiliation at Brighton
Sancho hit a new low on Saturday as Chelsea were dumped out of the FA Cup at the fourth-round stage by Brighton. The 23-cap England international didn't muster a single shot and failed to complete a dribble in his 74 minutes on the pitch, despite facing a side coming off a 7-0 league thrashing at the hands of Nottingham Forest.
He lost all seven of his duels and ceded possession eight times, too, before Maresca eventually reached the end of his tether. Despite Chelsea needing a goal, Maresca replaced Sancho with 19-year-old academy product Tyrique George for the final portion of the game, which was a humiliating moment for the former Dortmund talisman.
The likes of Christopher Nkunku, Palmer and Pedro Neto also underperformed in the 2-1 defeat, but Sancho stood out for a lack of effort as well as quality. He constantly slowed Chelsea down in attack, seemingly wanting no part in a battle with Joel Veltman, and didn't work hard enough defensively when Brighton were in the ascendency.
Getty Images SportMaresca's only option
Maresca would surely have dropped Sancho weeks ago if he had the choice. But there is a good chance he will line up against Brighton once again in the Premier League this coming Friday, because Chelsea are looking very light on left-sided options, with Mykhailo Mudryk serving a provisional suspension after a positive doping test.
Nkunku has shown some class in that position, but prefers operating in the No.10 slot, while Chelsea's decision to loan Joao Felix out to AC Milan in January is already coming back to bite them, despite Maresca's claims to the contrary.
Sancho and George are the only natural left-wingers in the squad right now, and the latter is not yet ready for the intensity of top-level football. Time is, therefore, still on Sancho's side.
Indeed, has reported that Chelsea still view Sancho as a 'potential superstar' who has a key role to play in Maresca's project. But that was the same line United fans were so often fed; Sancho has to break the habit of a lifetime and prove that he really wants it.
