Jadon Sancho's failure to make an impact at Manchester United is all in his head, according to interim boss Ralf Rangnick.
England winger Sancho joined United for £73million from Borussia Dortmund last summer, but has since failed to live up to that exorbitant fee.
In 23 appearances for United, Sancho has scored just twice and failed to register a single assist, confirming his difficulty in adapting to life at Old Trafford.
Rangnick has no doubts over Sancho's ability, but suggested the 21-year-old is struggling with the weight of expectation now he is playing on a bigger, more demanding stage.
“It's a different league, a different competition, a more physical league,” said Rangnick.
“Now he's 21, playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world. I think it's also got to do with a lot of the things up here, in his head.
“But in training, whenever I see him train, he's showing up and one of the best players in the training sessions.
“Now it's about the transfer to when he's playing, showing the same kind of level and performance on the pitch.
“It's a difference if you come as an 18 year-old, unknown talented English boy, to Borussia Dortmund.
“From then on you can only improve, you can only make a success out of that.
“The level of expectation was a lot lower compared to a situation where you come at the age of 21 to a club like Manchester United, for a high transfer fee, with a high level of expectation.
“Everyone expected from him that he would be one of the best players in the team. This is psychologically and emotionally, a more challenging situation than the one at Borussia Dortmund.
“But these are exactly the kind of steps that he has to make to become a top player for the next 10 years at this club.”
Rangnick said there is only so much he and his coaching staff can do for Sancho, insisting it is down to the player himself to prove his worth.
“We can give guidelines, we can give him a helping hand and show him we are trying to accompany him on this way and give him all the necessary assistance he needs, but in the end it's up to him to take the next steps,” said Rangnick.
“For me, it's not at all a question of his position. His position is as a left or right winger, this is his best possible position.
“But again, it's not only about training at the highest possible level. It's about confirming the performances you show in training out on the pitch.
“With these kinds of players, creative offensive players it's all about confidence, being aware of how good they can be, then showing it in front of 75,000 or 45,000 at Villa Park.
“In the end, he has to do that, he has to take that step. Now it's about letting that transfer onto the pitch, but he can do that.
“He has the ability to do that, there is no doubt about that. But now we have to develop him into that kind of player.”
