Jadon Sancho is looking good after a match-winning cameo on his debut. The English winger replaced Neto on the left wing at halftime and provided a game-changing assist 4 minutes before the end of regulation. Maresca was impressed by him at training and the new Chelsea player looks hungry to prove people wrong. Even though his performance against Bournemouth was great, a change in tactics could help unlock his true potential. With Ben Chilwell back in the squad, Maresca can play an overlapping fullback to support Sancho. Let’s talk about this in detail.
Understanding what Jadon Sancho needs
Jadon Sancho was sharp and direct against Bournemouth. He was taking on defenders with confidence and also looking to find people inside the box. He did not give the ball away cheaply and won the Player of the Match after playing just 45 minutes. It was his connection with Nkunku that was really impressive and revealed how both the attackers can feed off each other.
Nkunku unlike Jackson comes short to receive the ball from the wingers and either plays a quick one-two or turns quickly and looks to attack himself. Against Bournemouth, Jackson was central and with no fullback providing supporting runs, Jadon Sancho was left isolated on one side of the pitch many times. Marc Cucurella’s new role of inverting into the midfield doesn’t help Sancho much and leaves him with no option other than dribbling into multiple players. This is where Chilwell can come in and help in unlocking Sancho’s true potential.
How can Ben Chilwell help unlock Jadon Sancho?
After Chelsea could not find a new home for Chilwell, they named him in the 25-man league squad. He trained with the first team on Monday and began the season as one of the fifteen players who trained away from the first team. The 27-year-old who earns 200k pounds per week has played 169 Premier League games is too good to not play. Maresca prefers Cucurella because he is versatile, excels in pressing, and inverts into the center of midfield. On the other hand, Chilwell is better offensively, with better crossing and stronger goal threat. He is better suited in systems that demand fullbacks to overlap and join the attack. Sancho will have some support on the wing if Chilwell plays. The former England international can overlap on the left and provide options to Jadon Sancho. Chelsea can also play him till January and then sell him off. Giving him regular minutes will only help in uplifting his transfer value. Don’t expect Maresca to bench Cucurella from now on and start Chilwell. The manager was very sure when he said that he wasn’t the kind of left-back that he wanted.
Sancho Needs Love
Jadon Sancho had a tough time at Manchester United. The manager was hard on him and whatever happened between the two, both were unwilling to bend. Ten Hag froze him out of the squad because of this. Chelsea wouldn’t want the same issue at the club. Maresca in the post-match press conference said that Jadon Sancho is a guy who needs love. Taking into account the fact that Erik Ten Hag’s tough love ways did not work out, the Chelsea manager believes that Sancho should just enjoy football. According to him, if players like him are happy, they tend to produce on the pitch naturally. The Italian has chosen a different path compared to ETH when it comes to managing Jadon Sancho. Chelsea would hope that this confidence-inducing approach of Maresca works out well and things don’t end up like they did in Manchester.
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