SANCHO READY FOR SPURS
very strong. For his age, he is outstanding.” Dortmund had a good idea what they were getting because Sancho had been in their sights for some time.
Zorc (right) revealed: “We scouted him for the first time in August 2016, one year ahead of when we signed him. We mainly watched him for his matches with the U-17s of England and, of course, when he played for Man City in the youth league games.
“You could easily recognise his outstanding talent. And, therefore, it was very easy.”
Sancho’s decision to turn down a £30,000-a-week deal at City, due to fears about his first-team prospects, and move to Dortmund has been quickly justified – even before he established himself as a key man this season.
He has been such a hit that a string of British youngsters have been encouraged to follow him to the Bundesliga.
And Zorc said: “The biggest advantage of joining a German club is that they have the chance to play.
“And, because of this difference [between Premier League and Bundesliga clubs] in money to spend towards the teams, then maybe the German teams are a bit more forced to give these younger players chances to play.
“The most important thing is not to make promises you can’t keep afterwards.
“We don’t say, ‘You’re going to play definitely’. We just say, ‘There is the opportunity for you’.
“We have this strategy of a good structure in a team with experienced players who have played for many years in the team, such as Marco Reus, or Piszczek, Schmelzer etc. And the ones we buy as well at an older age.
“Sometimes it’s very easy just to show the team-sheet and look at the line-up – how many players, 20 years and younger, are playing in our team each Saturday? And in a cup game, that’s not so important.
“But in important games – against Munich, against Gladbach and also Champions League games.”
Second leg: Tuesday, March 5