Sancho’s the right man for the right place
WINGER NOW HAS TO BE USED IN POSITION UNITED SIGNED HIM FOR
IN the summer of 2020 when Jadon Sancho eluded United, he was their ‘right wing priority.’ Last summer when the Reds signed Sancho, he was a mere winger.
A little difference can mean a lot. The England international played most of last season on the left for Borussia Dortmund and five of his eight United starts have been on that side.
At Watford, Sancho lined up on the right and midway through the shambolic first half switched with Marcus Rashford to the left.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer communicated with Sancho more than any other player and his message failed to carry across the pitch with him on the far side. Rashford was removed at half-time and Sancho was back on the right.
Solskjaer’s end was possibly Sancho’s beginning. His whipped cross for Cristiano Ronaldo was cleverly nodded down for Donny van de Beek to score.
At Villarreal, Sancho smacked in his first United goal, via a kiss of the crossbar, a strike reminiscent of his goal at Camp Nou two years ago. That was a consolation. In Spain, it was the resurrection.
“Jadon was brilliant,” caretaker boss Michael Carrick said. “I know how much Jadon loves the ball at his feet and trying to make things happen, it’s where he’s happiest.
“But on the other side of the game, he put a real effort in defence and it was a big night for him.
“He’ll feel better after playing how he played. The goal is the obvious one and for Jadon himself, it will give him a massive boost.
“You earn your rewards, he epitomised the team performance to dig in but also to enjoy the ball at other times. It’s up to him what happens next and how he kicks on, he’s got all the talent in the world and he’ll have our support that’s for sure.”
Sancho attempted five dribbles in the game - the joint-most - and made the most progressive carries (measured by carrying the ball at least five yards towards the opponent’s goal or into the penalty area) by a United player. Sancho’s love affair with a ball began in the anarchic cage matches in Kennington, where winning came secondary to nutmegging opponents and embarrassing them. Most wingers have to develop a selfless streak and only Fred attempted more defensive pressures than Sancho on Tuesday. Even before scoring the clincher, Sancho had his most threatening performance in a United shirt and he spent almost the entirety of the evening on the right wing. Anthony Martial and Van de Beek, also unaccustomed to regularity, had freer roles that left them with no role.
Retaining Sancho over Rashford
was not a big call for Carrick following the nadir of Watford.
There was no rhyme or reason to recalling the meek Martial and Rashford was jolted by his demotion when he emerged with Bruno Fernandes in the 66th minute, heralding the momentum swing in the game.
Fernandes, finally dropped in Spain, passed the ball as calmly as he managed to play Sancho in for a duel the Villarreal goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli prevailed in.
Fernandes’s prod for Sancho’s goal appeared deliberate and the shot was unsaveable.
Some members of Rashford’s entourage are concerned about the threat of Sancho and some have also been surprised by the acclaim Mason Greenwood has received. The competition should be welcomed when, in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, it is perfectly possible to accommodate all three in a fluid attack.
“The flexibility we have as a forward line, they chop and change positions,” Carrick explained. “But wherever they ended up they defend with responsibility and with discipline and that made us a much stronger team. If you work well as a team and put the full package together you get your rewards.”
If the forwards are to have fixed roles when Ronaldo’s joints become stiff, Greenwood has the makings of a modern centre forward, Rashford is at his best from the left and Sancho on the right.
Where United originally intended him to play.