There´s a 10-mile stretch of cruel concrete soccer courts below the River Thames in South London. That expanse of rugged pavement has also spawned 10 percent of the English Premier League´s recent top talent, according to a 2021 study. Southside hotshots like Jadon Sancho, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Eberechi Eze, Joe Gomez, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Tammy Abraham are but some of the stars who cut their teeth in that sizzling south zone.
Go South of the (Thames) River, Son
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Even former Manchester United monster and England international Rio Ferdinand hosted a TV series called South of the River. The film took viewers inside ´the cages,´ the area´s steamy cement surfaces that allow and force the best young players to sharpen their skills, while they dream of their day at Wembley. Jadon Sancho, now battling for Borussia Dortmund, was the South´s brightest whiz of late, in the words of Richard Martin for goal.com.
Born and bred in Kennington, South London, Jadon Sancho was labeled ´a generational talent´ and left England at a relatively early age in search of ´first-team football.´ Starting at Watford, he moved to Manchester City, but only found the end of Pep Guardiola´s bench.
Next, he landed in Dortmund where he quickly chipped in with a contribution of more than a goal a game in the defensive-minded Bundesliga. Meanwhile, the Reds from Manchester United bided their time and then swooped on Sancho in 2021 for a mere 74 million British sterling, mind you.
How then could Jadon Sancho quickly slump from being one of the most desired strikers in all of Europe, and the latest hopeful to make English hearts flutter, to a bench warmer at Man U in a short two years? Despite the wild welcome he received, he fell off the radar last year. First, he was out of the Reds squad. Then, when he returned, his performances were decidedly sub-par. The speed, strength, and creativity that made him a fan favorite were sorely missing.
Was Sancho Coach ten Hag´s Scapegoat?
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At the beginning of the 2023-24 campaign, Jadon trotted out for Man U only in cameo showings. Finally, he was gone altogether when the Reds visited London rivals Arsenal. Injured?
Coach Erik ten Hag, the ruthless Dutchman, replied curtly when questioned about Sancho´s exclusion: “On his performance on training, we didn´t select him. You have to reach the level every day at Manchester United. You can make choices on the front line. So in this game, he wasn´t selected. ”
Jadon Sancho didn´t exactly go quietly into the night. He declared that he´d been “a scapegoat for a long time.” And now, at the beginning of May 2024? Ten Hag is on his way out of Manchester after a dismal season (by Red standards), while Sancho´s furious footwork helped his latest Borussia Dortmund outfit book a place in the 2024 UEFA Champions League Final in Wembley Stadium of all places—a short stroll (or a brief hackney carriage ride at least) from the south bank of the mighty River Thames.
Also Read: Real Madrid’s Hopes For 15th Champions League Title Saved By Joselu Double
Mendes Couldn´t Get Close to Jadon Sancho
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In the first leg of the Champions League semifinal, Sancho had his way with PSG´s Nuno Mendes. The Parisian fullback “just couldn´t get close to Jadon Sancho” in the words of Miguel Delaney of the Independent. In the second leg, Jadon was pulled early in the second half as Borussia clung to a slender lead. Finally winning 2-0 on aggregate, the top story ironically isn´t about Borussia´s organization and power, or Sancho´s dazzling dribbles.
Rather, fans and pundits alike wonder how French phenom Kylian Mbappé can now leave PSG without ever tasting the ultimate European glory, especially after all the billions spent in Paris to guarantee the same. Yet after two and a half years across the Channel, Sancho returned to Dortmund, supposedly to end the spat with ten Hag. Funnily enough, as he enters the Champions League Final on June 1, he´s actually ´on loan´ from Man U.
Just before his return to Germany, Sebastian Kehl, Borussia´s sporting director, stated simply on the club´s site: “Jadon Sancho is an absolute difference player, and I´m looking forward to seeing him back in black and yellow soon. He knows this city, Signal Iduna Park, our fans, and our club.” He also knows that posh place called Londontown, especially its heavier south side. We´ll soon see if those unforgiving cement courts along the river taught Jadon Sancho a trick or two to lift his side to the Champions League summit.
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Wily soccer writer Will Beebe, long an England fan, doesn´t have high hopes of the Three Lions winning another World Cup soon. His recent book, Soccer Giants of Brazil: One American´s Take on Samba Soccer Culture, is now on Amazon. www.soccergaintsofbrazil.com | Connect with Will on X: @WABeebe11.
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