"Just a shadow now: former pros tear into ex-Dortmund star Sancho" | OneFootball

Former Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho has had a false start at Aston Villa. Former professionals are sharply critical and warn of a looming career "vicious cycle".

Jadon Sancho's debut in the Aston Villa jersey could hardly have gone worse. In the League Cup exit against FC Brentford, the former BVB professional stood on the pitch for his new club for the first time - and was substituted after 72 minutes. Villa was eliminated from the competition in the subsequent penalty shootout.

Former Villa professional Paul Merson, who was active for the "Villans" between 1998 and 2002, was particularly critical. In his sportskeeda column, he wrote: "I have no idea what Jadon Sancho is doing at the moment. He's not approaching anyone, not engaging anyone, and not taking any risks. I would be shocked if he started the next game."

For Merson, Sancho seemed "just a shadow of his former self", lacking confidence and courage. He demanded: "He needs to stop playing it safe and take risks with the ball at his feet. If he loses the ball, no one cares. But he needs to try to make things happen and not just pass the ball around."

Ex-BVB Pro Sancho disappoints at Aston Villa

Another former professional, former Villa striker Stan Collymore, also criticized the signing of the 25-year-old. Speaking to 10bet Casino, he said: "I was not a fan of Jadon Sancho being signed by Villa. I believe he is now just one of those players that Manchester United can't get rid of because no one is willing to pay a high transfer fee or his salary to sign him permanently."

Collymore recalled the Englishman's glory days at Borussia Dortmund, but also warned of a problematic future: "He needs to focus and perform, because if he doesn't, his career will become a circus and he will be stuck in a vicious cycle of loan deals."

Indeed, Sancho has already had several short-term stints. After his return from Dortmund, he was loaned back to BVB for the 2023/24 season, before playing for Chelsea last year. Now, under Unai Emery at Aston Villa, he is supposed to make a fresh start. But after the weak debut, both player and club are still waiting for the first positive impulse.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.