display

One of the first well-wishers came from the main stand.

Erling Haaland ran after Borussia Dortmund's 3-2 (1-0) against RB Leipzig to Jadon Sancho and hugged him.

The English tempo dribbler, with two goals significantly involved in the success, let it happen.

It can be doubted whether Sancho would still have had the strength to defend himself against the rustic declarations of love of the injured striker. He was happy but pretty drained. “Erling is a great player. I really hope he can play again on Thursday, ”said Sancho. A win in the final of the DFB Cup against Leipzig would mean "a lot" (a lot) to him.

As a 17-year-old, he came from Manchester City's youth academy in 2017 - on the last day of the transfer window.

Almost two and a half months after BVB won the trophy for the fourth and last time.

Sancho has already come a long way with the Westphalians.

This is often overlooked when looking at Dortmund's transfer policy, which is often reduced to the discovery, training and profitable resale of talent.

The instinctual player with Caribbean roots, who grew up in parks and on the streets of the London borough of Kensington, is playing his fourth season in the Bundesliga.

It doesn't have to be his last. 

display

"It would be good for us if he stayed," Michael Zorc had recently said.

But also given to understand that the gentleman's agreement that the Dortmund team concluded with the winger continues to apply.

"With a certain offer at a certain point in time, we would let him go," said the sports director of the "Ruhr Nachrichten".

Jadon Sancho (center) scores to 2-0 against Leipzig

Source: AFP

Last summer it already looked as if the time had come: the Dortmunders had waited until a month before the start of the season to see whether an offer that would meet their expectations would flutter in.

They would have accepted an offer worth a hundred million euros.

But none came.

Even Manchester United, who were interested, had to pass.

The effects of the pandemic made themselves felt on the international market.

So Sancho had no choice but to stay.

In the autumn blues

It was not easy for him to accept this.

He got the blues, sagged.

It was the first time that such a phenomenon could be observed in him: Admittedly, there had been indiscipline in the past few years.

But he never let himself down in training or in competition.

display

This time it was different. Sancho didn't find the season. His speed runs, feared by opponents, were rarely seen, he neglected defensive work. "Subconsciously, Jadon had probably already adjusted to the change a little," said managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke. Because of that he lost "his lightness". To make matters worse, Lucien Favre, the BVB trainer at the time, did not necessarily have psychological skills in dealing with talents who are looking for orientation.

It took Sancho to get back on track.

One key on the way was the change of coach.

Edin Terzic spoke strongly to Sancho again, encouraged him.

It was only on January 30th in a 2-0 win over Wolfsburg that Sancho scored his first Bundesliga goal in 2020/2021.

There are now eight, although he was out of action from early March to mid-April due to a torn muscle.

Young, fast and important: Sancho (center) celebrates the victory against Leipzig with his BVB teammates around captain Marco Reus (top) and Emre Can (right)

Source: AP

His two goals on Saturday now mark the return to old ease - even if it cost Sancho strength due to the aftermath of his injury.

They were typical Sancho goals: At 2-0 (51st minute) he irritated his opponent Lukas Klostermann with a body deception and then shot into the far corner.

At 3-2 he first played the ball with the heel in the barrel of Raphaël Guerreiro and took up his pass again to complete.

"A little used to him"

display

"Jadon played a great game, but we're a bit used to that from him," said Terzic. In time for the season finale with the decision on qualifying for the Champions League and the cup final, important offensive players are getting better and better in form: Giovanni Reyna, captain Marco Reus, who also scored on Saturday, and above all Sancho. "We scored eight goals in the last two games without Erling Haaland," said Terzic.

Now the only thing missing is the return of the Norwegian in view of the cup final in Berlin on Thursday.

In this respect, too, Sancho gives hope.

"I told him: Erling, we have a job to do: get the trophy," said Sancho at ESPN.

When asked where he would play in the coming season, he was vague.

"I don't know what my future looks like, but I'm very happy here at the moment," said Sancho.

At the moment it looks like last summer: There is no offer for him in Dortmund.