Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has denied that signing Jadon Sancho is “a risk”, insisting he has no concerns about the winger’s attitude despite his high-profile falling out with Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.
Maresca revealed that he warned Sancho during negotiations that “if you come here and don’t work properly then you are not going to play”, but issued a fierce backing of his deadline day signing ahead of a potential debut at Bournemouth on Saturday night.
Sancho joined the Blues from United on an initial loan deal last month, with the move set to become permanent for around £25million next summer.
That is little more than a third of the price United paid to sign the Englishman from Borussia Dortmund three years ago, when he was one of Europe’s most highly-rated talents.
Sancho’s career has stalled badly, however, and while there were green shoots during a loan return to Dortmund in the second half of last season - which ended in a Champions League final appearance - he arrives in west London with a reputation to rebuild.
“First of all I don’t consider Jadon a risk because I consider Jadon as a player who can help us,” Maresca said.
“With the way we play he is that kind of player to help us a lot, especially in the last third when we arrive there so many times and need more quality, more patience, more accuracy.
“I love Jadon, I love the players we have. The reason Jadon is here is because I love him, otherwise he would not be here.”
Sancho’s United career was effectively ended by a public clash with Ten Hag after he was dropped for last September’s meeting with Arsenal. The Dutchman said his decision was due to the 24-year-old’s poor training performances, leading Sancho to hit back in a social media post in which he claimed to have been made a scapegoat for the club’s struggles.
His only subsequent appearance for United came in the Community Shield last month, when he came off the bench as a late substitute and missed his penalty in the shootout defeat to Manchester City.
“I don’t have any idea about what happened with Erik,” Maresca said. “I can just judge the player in the weeks he has been with us and he has been perfect.
“We have Jadon, Joao [Felix], these kind of players. Before they joined the club, I had a chat with them, and one of my messages to them was if you come here and don’t work properly then you are not going to play. Before they arrived, the message for them was clear. For Jadon. For Joao.
“But the reason why I’m speaking to you is because I really like you. If you come here in the way that we want, we are happy. But if you come there and don’t work hard, it’s better if you don’t come.”
