“Erik ten Hag doesn’t anything about football,if he does, he shouldn’t be treating such amazing talent like that… For example, Sancho was playing like Benjamin at Man United and now he has improved greatly”: Chelsea manager reveals he has changed Jadon Sancho’s career for good, reveals Man United has another Ballon d’Or potential player who’s not been treated fair by Erik ten Hag as he promised to sign him next season
Enzo Maresca says Jadon Sancho has produced exactly what he expected from him so far in Chelsea training, but it is Noni Madueke who he feels is the club’s most dangerous winger right now.
Sancho completed his somewhat unexpected loan move from Manchester United to Stamford Bridge before the transfer deadline but is yet to make his debut for the Blues.
He looked to impress his new boss Maresca during the international break and it seems like he managed that, with the Italian speaking highly of the England international.
‘He has been exactly what I expected,’ Maresca told club media. ‘He’s a very good player, a one-v-one player with quality in the last third. I’m sure he’s going to help us.’
The 24-year-old will hope to make his Chelsea debut on Saturday at Bournemouth but there is plenty of competition for places to play under Maresca.
The likes of Pedro Neto, Joao Felix, Christopher Nkunku, Mykhailo Mudryk and Kiernan Dewbury-Hall are all competing for places to play in the forward line behind striker Nicolas Jackson.
It is Madueke that Maresca has highlighted, though, saying he wants his wingers to take defenders on and the new England international is proving the best at doing that.
‘Most of the time our wingers have the chance to be one-v-one 10 times during the game,’ said the Blues boss. ‘For every winger it’s a dream come true to play forward and have the chance to go one-v-one. We allow them during the game to go one-v-one at different times.
‘The best one for us in this moment has been Noni. In pre-season he scored different goals, created different chances. Every time he received the ball he can go one-v-one. Noni is doing fantastic, but all our wingers are working well.’
Madueke has had a great start to the season, scoring a hat-trick against Wolves in the Premier League and making his England debut, coming off the bench against Finland on Tuesday night.
‘It’s a big achievement for all the players to join their international team, especially for Noni,’ Maresca said.
‘We feel very happy for him. He is doing well. The only thing he has to do is not drop a little bit, otherwise it’s no good for him and he is going to lose all the good things he has done until now. He has to continue to work well, in the proper way.’
