Aston Villa boss Unai Emery will continue to give Jadon Sancho the chance to impress
Jadon Sancho of Aston Villa(Image: Getty Images)
Unai Emery has promised to keep giving Jadon Sancho opportunities to find his best form consistently and believes the Manchester United loanee can play for England again.
Since joining on loan on deadline day in September, Sancho has only started in two Premier League matches for Aston Villa, but both of those starts came in two of the club’s last three games.
After playing a key role in Villa’s comeback at Chelsea, Sancho then started against Arsenal, where the team’s 11-match winning streak came to an end. Villa responded in their next match by defeating Nottingham Forest.
Sancho started again at Crystal Palace but struggled to make an impact and was substituted just after the hour mark for Emi Buendia.
Despite these challenges in his league starts, Emery has vowed to continue working with Sancho to help him fulfil his potential.
“He has huge potential, still being young but with a really long time in his career as a player performing fantastically.
“He stopped his progression, for different reasons. Here, my only objective with him is to exploit his best, and he is in this process. Until now, he hasn’t exploited his best, but tomorrow is another opportunity.
“Today’s training is another chance to train well and stay focused. His commitment is like I need, and how he is focusing on his progression as well is like I want. After it, keep going, keep going, keep going.”
Emery added: “I have a big responsibility with everything. The players have a responsibility themselves to play in the time they have in the structure we are building and every day to be ready in training to improve, and when we are facing matches, to do their best.
“Some players are being consistent, some players are sometimes down, but keeping the idea of what we need. Some need more time. At the moment, with Sancho we are working, but he has not reached until now the level he has.
“I spoke with him a few times, and it is normal in my expectation of his progression with us. In the second part of the season, he will exploit more, helping us with his skills. Always the commitment he has shown in the first half of the season, trying to do his best.
“He played a very good 30 minutes against Chelsea. Against Arsenal, he performed well, not brilliant. Against Crystal Palace, he did not play brilliantly but he helped with his task.
“Of course, now we need his qualities, getting numbers and being brilliant in his actions as a player. There is still time to get it, so keep going and be focused like he is doing.”
Sancho joined Villa, perhaps with an eye on the World Cup later this year, after seeing his close friend Marcus Rashford return to the England squad following a strong spell under Emery while on loan last season.
“He must have his challenge of coming back with his national team. Of course, until now he hasn’t deserved it. But he has the challenge, and I have spoken with him about it,” Emery admitted.
“He has the talent to come back. He is a fantastic guy, and his commitment to train, to do everything we are working on, is positive. Now I am positive with him in his expectation for his performance to get progressively better.
“Then, of course, he can come back because he has the qualities, in case he can get the same level he had in Dortmund.
“Sometimes we are watching some highlights of him and sharing with him his best moments in his career. He is still young, 25 years old.
“He is trying to get it, and we are trying to help and support him. Now we have four or five months to get it, to strongly focus to get it.”
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