When you’re class, you can be class anywhere
THE DEBATE ON WHETHER PREMIER LEAGUE EXPERIENCE IS STILL RELEVANT
“THE thing with Grealish is he’s obviously used to the Premier League and doesn’t need to adapt to it.”
Ryan Giggs was giving shining endorsements of both of United’s primary summer targets when he appeared to suggest Grealish’s bedding-in period at United, were he to move to Old Trafford, might be a little smoother than Sancho’s.
Giggs wasn’t using Grealish’s topflight experience as a slight against Sancho – United’s record appearance-maker supports moves for both players, but the fact Giggs mentioned it all suggests he does place some value on Premier League know-how.
‘Premier League experience’ is a phrase commonly heard when transfer windows swing around and there is certainly merit in discussing its importance when it comes to certain players, although as Bruno Fernandes has shown, proving this writer wrong in the process, when you’re world-class somewhere, you can be world-class anywhere.
Fernandes didn’t need an adaptation period after moving to United, hitting the ground running following his move from Sporting and ending his domestic campaign with better stats than he posted in the first half of the season in Lisbon.
Fernandes scored eight goals and recorded seven assists in both the Premier League and Liga NOS this term, but he did so across three fewer appearances in England.
Fernandes isn’t the only example, either. Fernando Torres, Alexis Sanchez and Sergio Aguero all arrived in England with high price tags and showed their quality. Of course, there are examples of highprofile players flopping in England but the best players generally arrive and continue to prove why they are the best players.
Sancho has two full campaigns as a mainstay in Borussia Dortmund’s team under his belt and amassed 33 goals and 39 assists in that period. This season he was one of only three players in Europe to record 20 goals and 20 assists in all competitions alongside Fernandes and Lionel Messi.
The Bundesliga has a earned a reputation for being a one-team league owing to Bayern’s record of having claimed eight successive championships, but it’s worth mentioning Sancho doesn’t actually play for them. Dortmund finished second but they are very much among a group of teams a tier or two below Bayern, which makes Sancho’s figures for the campaign more impressive. There were those who questioned Sancho’s mentality following his decision to leave City for Dortmund but he was merely showing he is strong-willed to reach the top. This United side can give him the platform.
This revitalised United side can give Sancho the platform to reach the top
Liam Corless