Jadon Sancho made quite the start to his Chelsea career on Saturday night.
On as a half-time substitute, the Blues winger, who signed on loan from Manchester United recently, made his debut away at Bournemouth in the Premier League. Sancho looked like one of Chelsea’s brightest players in the 45-or-so minutes he played at the Vitality Stadium, and helped make a match-winning impact on 86 minutes.
A clever pass into the feet of Christopher Nkunku, a fellow substitute, saw the Frenchman make some space for himself in the box before firing the ball into the bottom right corner. “I think we start the second-half much better and Jadon helped us a lot but what he did tonight is exactly what we expected from him,” Enzo Maresca said after the game.
“As I said, I know Jadon very good because I watched him many, many times in the past and I know what he can give us.” An inspired couple of substitutes from Maresca with Sancho coming on at half-time and Nkunku with just over 10 minutes to go. A pair of subs that highlighted Chelsea’s attacking arsenal.
Sancho, a boyhood Chelsea fan, fulfilled a lifelong dream on Saturday night by making his debut for his beloved club. After an unsuccessful stint at Man United, where he very publicly fell out with manager Erik ten Hag, it is a fresh opportunity for Sancho to make it at one of the biggest clubs in England.
His former teammates at United are still very much supportive of Sancho, though, as Saturday night proved. After the game, the 24-year-old posted a collection of photos from the game on his official Instagram account, with the caption: “Delighted to make my @chelseafc debut, and to top it off with a win!”.
One United player commented on the photo, captain Bruno Fernandes, who said: “Some player you, keep that smile”. There was plenty more love for the England international, including from the likes of Cole Palmer, Tammy Abraham, Tosin Adarabioyo, and plenty more.
“It is amazing to make my debut for Chelsea and just be back playing,” Sancho said in a post-match interview. “I am very grateful. I thought the team played very well, we dug in until the end and we are happy with the three points.”
He added: “I have been working hard for this moment and I am happy that I got my chance.”
Sancho is from Kennington in London, around five miles from Stamford Bridge. He came through the academy ranks at Watford before moving to Manchester City at the age of 14 – and moving to Borussia Dortmund a few years later.
His move to Chelsea had been a long time coming for Sancho on a personal level. Sancho is now up and running in a Chelsea shirt and his performance at the Vitality Stadium has put him in contention to start the game away at West Ham United this weekend.
