England boss Gareth Southgate makes his feelings clear on Jadon Sancho return to England squad
England manager Gareth Southgate has already made his feelings clear on the prospect of Jadon Sancho being selected for his Euro 2024 squad.
England boss Gareth Southgate has made feelings clear on whether Jadon Sancho can make Euro 2024 squad
Published 12:00 2 May 2024 GMT+1
England manager Gareth Southgate has already made his feelings clear on the prospect of Jadon Sancho being selected for his Euro 2024 squad.
Sancho looked back to his relentless best as Borussia Dortmund took a slender 1-0 advantage over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-final first leg.
The 24-year-old completed more dribbles by half-time of Wednesday night’s encounter than he managed in any of his 58 Premier League appearances for Manchester United.
Sancho scored just 12 goals in his 82 United appearances before falling out with manager Erik ten Hag, but his rejuvenated form has raised questions regarding not only his Old Trafford future, but also whether he can sneak his way into Southgate’s plans for the upcoming European Championships.
Sancho has made 23 appearances for the Three Lions under Southgate, the last of which came from the bench in a 5-1 win against Andorra in September 2021.
However, Southgate has previously said the “door is open” for players to prove themselves ahead of the summer.
Speaking back in November, the England boss said: “As I said, there are a few players who aren’t in this squad — either they are injured or the door is absolutely open. We will always be open to that.”
Two months prior, discussing Sancho’s in particular, the Three Lions boss said: “I think that’s the challenge for him now.
“It’s been the best part of a couple of years since we worked with him, it’s difficult to say exactly the position that he finds himself and where he is with it all.
“But for every player that’s not with us, there is always an opportunity if they can seize the form and have the (right) level of performance.”
Sancho finished the match with 12 successful dribbles, the most completed by a player in this season’s Champions League, and the most by anyone since Lionel Messi against United in April 2008 (16).
Sancho has not featured for England since 2021 (Getty)
Sancho has not featured for England since 2021 (Getty)
Despite much talk of his impressive performance however, Sancho didn’t allow himself to think beyond Dortmund’s second leg in Paris next Tuesday.
He told CBS: “When we have our fans we are so motivated from the start. But this tie is not over, we still have to go to Paris and get the job done.
“I appreciate all the compliments but I take it game by game. Performances like today, I hope can carry on.
“I came here at 17, they gave me the opportunity to play professional football and I am delighted to be welcomed back and I am focused on the present right now.”
More news….
Sancho vs Carragher: Sancho responds to Man Utd return, England recall questions in interview with eight-pints Carragher
Jadon Sancho was interviewed by a sozzled Jamie Carragher after Borussia Dortmund’s win on Wednesday.
Jadon Sancho was quizzed on the possibility of him returning to Manchester United in the summer and his hopes of an England recall after his stunning display for Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, in an interview with a sozzled Jamie Carragher.
Sancho was named Player of the Match as Dortmund beat Paris Saint-Germain courtesy of a Niclas Fullkrug goal at a raucous Signal Induna Park.
The 24-year-old was back to the brilliant best that encouraged United to pay £73m to sign him from Dortmund in 2021, form we have never seen from the winger at Old Trafford.
Having returned to the Bundesliga on loan in January, Sancho’s confidence has flooded back and his display against PSG on Wednesday was a clear reminder of his enviable talents.
Eight pints in The Yellow Wall
He probably wasn’t counting on being interviewed by a p*ssed-up pundit after the game…
Asked if he was in any state to work after the game, Carragher said: “That’s actually a good point because I haven’t had too much to eat. I had a cheeseburger at about half two when I got to the hotel. It might explain why I might be slurring my words because I’ve had about eight pints in The Yellow Wall! I’ve got a new family, a family of friends, we all look after each other. I give them a few bob after half-time!”
The CBS Sports pundit then grabbed Sancho for an interview alongside Peter Schmichel. Here it is in full:
Carragher: “I’ve just been in the yellow wall, my first experience of it, you know it very well. You’ve been here before. That was one of the best experiences of my life. Amazing.”
Schmeichel: “Have you been in the yellow wall yet?”
Sancho: “No haven’t been, but week in and week out that’s how it is.”
Schmeichel: “How has it helped you on the pitch?”
Sancho: “A lot. When we hear our fans we’re so motivated from the start. When we hear them we can’t wait to play.”
Carragher: “The great thing about the Yellow Wall is the atmosphere. It’s not the best view in the world, I thought you played well. But Thierry Henry, Alessandro del Piero and Micah Richards are absolutely raving about your performance.”
Sancho: “I appreciate it but it’s not over, we still have to go to Paris and hopefully get the job done there, but I appreciate the compliments.”
Sancho at Euro 2024?
Schmeichel: “You’re playing like someone looking to get in the Champions League final, but also thinking ‘I want to get into that England squad and be here in’.
Sancho: “I appreciate it. But it’s not over. We still got to go to Paris and hopefully we can get the job done there. But I appreciate the compliments.”
Schmeichel: Will you be coming back here [to Dortmund] next season?
Sancho: “Who me? I really don’t know but I am just focused on impressing right now.”
Carragher: “If you get to the final can we have a few pints together?”
Sancho: “I don’t drink!”
Reports suggest Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is looking to sell Sancho in a major clear out at Old Trafford this summer, and if that remains the case after that display against PSG he can expect to field offers of significnantly more than the £40m he was hoping for.
Alternatively, he could look to reintegrate Sancho into the United squad, though that would almost certainly mean sacking Erik ten Hag.
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