Sancho shoots at ex-Man United coaches after match winner against Fenerbahce

Aston Villa winger Jadon Sancho aimed a dig at his previous managers at Manchester United and Chelsea, where he struggled, as he lauded Unai Emery for his ability to bring out the best in him. 

Sancho struck the 25th-minute winner in Villa’s 1–0 away victory over Fenerbahçe on Thursday night, in the UEFA Europa League, a goal that effectively sealed qualification momentum for the English side

After the match, Sancho openly praised Emery’s clarity and trust, comments widely interpreted as a subtle contrast to his turbulent experiences at Manchester United and Chelsea.

"He just keeps on telling me to be positive every time I play," Sancho revealed, per Goal. "It's nice to have a manager who backs you and obviously believes in you. Again, every opportunity I get, I'm going to try and do 100 per cent, and hopefully I can deliver more goals."

Jadon Sancho’s time at Manchester United became a prolonged struggle marked by inconsistency and a public fallout that ultimately derailed his Old Trafford career. 

Signed from Borussia Dortmund for £73 million in July 2021, Sancho failed to justify the fee across 83 appearances, returning 12 goals and six assists in all competitions. 

He struggled under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, found little stability under Ralf Rangnick, and endured further difficulties under Erik ten Hag, with whom he had a highly publicised disagreement in September 2023 after being dropped for poor training performances, a situation that led to his exile from first-team activities and eventual loan return to Dortmund in January 2024. 

His brief second spell at Borussia Dortmund showed flashes of improvement, including reaching the 2024 UEFA Champions League final, but failed to reignite consistent elite-level output. 

A subsequent 2024/25 loan stint at Chelsea also ended disappointingly. Sancho’s move to Aston Villa on loan in August 2025 has, however, offered a fresh start under Unai Emery, whose tactical structure and man-management appear better suited to reviving the winger’s confidence.