Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been pleased with what he has seen from “perfect” new signing Jadon Sancho.
The England international joined the Blues from Manchester United on a deadline loan, with the deal including an obligation to buy next summer.
“I don’t consider Jadon a risk,” Maresca said. “He’s a player who can help us. Whatever’s happened with Erik [ten Hag], I have no idea. I can only judge the player on the weeks he’s been with us. He’s been perfect.”
Sancho fell out with United boss Ten Hag last season and was made to train away from the first team before rejoining Borussia Dortmund on loan in January.
“With Jadon and Joao [Felix] when they joined the club, I had a chat with them. One of my messages to them is if you come here and don’t work properly then you’re not going to play. Before they arrived, the message for them was clear,” Maresca said.
“If they perform during the week, they’ll have a chance; if they don’t work properly, they won’t play.
“The only way to do the best for the team is to give chances to the players who really work and deserve.
“Jadon’s working well since he arrived and he can help us in the way he plays.”
After training at Chelsea’s Cobham training complex during the international break, Sancho is in contention to face Bournemouth on Saturday.
“The reason we have Jadon here is because I love him, otherwise he’d not be here.
“We need more accuracy, more quality and passion – he’s that sort of player.”