Jadon Sancho rubbed salt into the wounds of Manchester United on Wednesday night as he stole the show in Borussia Dortmund’s victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals. The on-loan winger was excellent throughout the contest and ensured that Dortmund will be playing in a higher-level competition than his parent club next season.
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With the stakes so high, Sancho led the way in standing up to be counted at the Signal Iduna Park. The winger breezed past the PSG backline on countless occasions, showing a willingness to get to the by-line but also cut inside and influence play through the middle.
The 24-year-old completed more dribbles in the first half alone than he managed in any of his 58 appearances for United in the Premier League, with a return to familiar territory clearly working in getting his career back on track.
Nicolas Fullkrug scored the all-important goal on the night for Dortmund, though it is Sancho who has received all of the plaudits since the full-time whistle sounded, and his performance has highlighted further how his stint with the Red Devils has hindered his progress.
Watch all the Premier League and Champions League drama unfold on TNT Sports
The victory for United means that Germany's Bundesliga will be getting a fifth automatic spot for next season’s Champions League, which is currently occupied by Dortmund. Serie A has also earned an additional club in the competition.
Dortmund are currently sat on 57 points in the Bundesliga and 12 points clear of Eintracht Frankfurt in seventh, which therefore means that they are likely to find their way into the Champions League through a spot in which they played a key role in earning – along with fellow semi-finalists Bayern Munich.
In contrast, United are battling it out to ensure that they will be playing Europa League football next season, rather than the Europa Conference League. It remains to be seen whether Sancho will be returning to Old Trafford to play in either of those competitions next season or if Dortmund are able to strike a permanent deal for his services.
The Bundesliga outfit are desperate to retain the forward next season and will be keen to use their Champions League funds to attempt to reach an agreement with United. Sancho is unlikely to be short of interest elsewhere though if he continues to shine at the very top level.
