Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic not surprised by Jadon Sancho’s quality play

Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic said he was not surprised by Jadon Sancho’s quality after the on-loan forward helped the German side to a 1-0 win over Paris St Germain in the first leg tie of their Champions League semi-final.

Sancho joined Manchester United from Dortmund for $91.11 million in August 2021 but failed to hold down a regular spot and returned to Germany after becoming embroiled in a row with manager Erik ten Hag.

After impressing on the right wing against PSG, Terzic said he sees Sancho’s quality all the time in training.

“It’s maybe not so easy to bring it onto the field, especially when you haven’t had rhythm for a while,” he told reporters.

“We know his quality and we saw it again today (Wednesday). We knew we needed a performance like that from Jadon.”

Sancho said he was taking things one game at a time and hoped to maintain his good form into the second leg in Paris.

“I came here at 17 and they gave me the opportunity to play my professional football,” he told CBS Sports.

“I am delighted with all the staff and players that have welcomed me back. I really don’t know (if I am going to stay). I am just focused on the present right now.”

Dortmund fans are enjoying a different player since his return on loan in January — one who could help their side into the Champions League final against either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich at Wembley Stadium.

Sancho finished the match with 12 successful dribbles, the most completed by a player in a Champions League match this season.

It was also the most by a player in a Champions League semi-final since Lionel Messi in April 2008 against Manchester United (16) and the most on record in the competition by an Englishman.

With performances like this, it is no wonder Dortmund want Sancho to remain next season.

But, for the loan to be repeated next season, or turned into a permanent transfer, it would require significant compromise on all sides.

Dortmund can’t match the salary Sancho gets at United. But United, under severe pressure to comply with the English Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules, cannot just hand over an asset of that size.

It is clear there is no future for Sancho at Old Trafford if Ten Hag remains as manager. But he may not, which opens up the possibility of a return to United even if the feeling persists he will be playing elsewhere next season.

Dortmund have already secured something tangible from the first leg, with their win confirming another Champions League spot for Germany for next season for which they look to be the main beneficiaries.

They have struggled in the Bundesliga this season and are currently in fifth place with three games to play.

“We wanted to qualify for the Champions League through the Bundesliga and not this way,” Terzic said. “But the fact that it will be enough to qualify as fifth is also partly down to our success.”