BVB boss Kehl about returnees
Suspension was “like a cruciate ligament injury” for Sancho
March 10, 2024, 3:05 p.m
Jadon Sancho has been back at Borussia Dortmund since January. His goal tally until the BVB game in Bremen was zero. Then he moves inside and puts the ball in the near corner. Like in old times. He went through a dark time at Manchester United.
Jadon Sancho was relatively calm about Dortmund’s second goal in the 2-1 win in Bremen. The goal was a very special one after a fine individual performance for the English international soccer player. Sancho celebrated his first sense of success in the black and yellow jersey in almost three years. He last scored for the Bundesliga club in the DFB Cup final against RB Leipzig in May 2021. Then he moved to Manchester United. A dark time began. One that BVB sports director Sebastian Kehl compared to an injury. More on that later.
With 39 Bundesliga goals, Sancho is now tied with Tony Woodcock as the English record goalscorer in Bundesliga history. But the Manchester United loanee didn’t want to talk about any of this on Saturday evening. But others spoke about the 23-year-old – and were full of praise. “He was rewarded for all his work today,” said Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl. “Everyone was happy for Jadon because they saw that he wanted to work, that he was totally willing to help the team.”
With a great individual performance, Sancho made it 2-0 shortly before the break and thus set the course for victory for BVB. “When he runs at you at such speed, he is almost impossible to defend,” said Werder Bremen coach Ole Werner, at the same time defending his inexperienced newcomer Julian Malatini.
At full speed, Sancho simply left the Bremen defender standing and then fired a shot into the near corner of Werder goalkeeper Michael Zetterer. “He did a great job,” praised strike partner Niclas Füllkrug, who had not scored a goal on his return to the Weser.
Sancho not satisfied with his own performance
According to Dortmund coach Edin Terzić, Sancho, who returned to BVB on loan from Manchester United in January, was not really happy after his first goal of the season. “He was very dissatisfied after the game because he thought he had lost too many balls,” reported the BVB coach. “That’s what I like about him, that he doesn’t just limit his performance to the goal.”
Terzic himself sees the development of the great hope as entirely positive. “It’s completely logical for us that he’s not his old self yet, considering what his last twelve months have been like,” said Terzic, referring to the English international striker’s limited playing time at Manchester United. Sancho was suspended there for months after a dispute with coach Erik ten Hag. “It’s like a player having a cruciate ligament injury,” said Kehl about the Englishman’s long, involuntary break.
The first goal for BVB should now give Sancho further self-confidence. Especially with a view to the second leg of the round of 16 in the Champions League against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday, Dortmund can really use a strengthened Sancho. BVB has to win there in order to reach the quarter-finals of the premier football league. “We need Jadon again on Wednesday and in the next few weeks anyway,” said Kehl. “Goals help! He had an assist before. This goal will give a boost.”