Aston Villa travelled to the Netherlands for one of many early Europa League matches on Thursday night.
Villa were looking to make it six wins on the spin and maintain their 100% start to their European campaign. Having eased past Feyenoord on their last trip abroad, more of the same was expected.
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Head coach Unai Emery made a couple of changes to the side that started Sunday’s 2-1 win at Tottenham. Notably, Jadon Sancho came into the XI for his second Villa start. The 25-year-old has been used sparingly since his arrival from Manchester United.
He is hardly the world beater who took teams apart during his time at Borussia Dortmund. Indeed, Sancho had made just three outings prior to tonight’s Europa League showing. Some scoffed at Villa’s decision to secure his services on deadline day.
Sancho’s second Villa start
Starting from the left in Emery’s favoured 4-2-3-1 setup, the pressure was off for the Villans early on as Evann Guessand put the Premier League side ahead in the fourth minute. It was a scrappy finish by the Frenchman but one that opened the game up at De Adelaarshorst. The goal, though, stemmed from Sancho’s run to the byline and ball over the top.
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And Sancho looked to double Villa’s advantage in the 10th minute as he was presented with a one-on-one situation against Melle Meulensteen. The on-loan winger had the better of the 26-year-old as he cut onto his right into this box. However, Sunday’s match winner at Spurs, Emiliano Buendia, took the chance off Sancho, who’d look set to pull the trigger.
And after Guessand should have had a second, Sancho was again involved for the away side, forcing a smart stop from Jari De Busser. Villa pushed for a second but failed to make their first half dominance count. It came back to cost the Premier League side, who conceded shortly before the break as Mathis Suray’s effort deflected off Pau Torres and past Emi Martinez.
Sancho should have had an assist five minutes into the second half as he looked to pick out Ollie Watkins. There was just a little too much on the cross and it bounced into De Busser’s hands. While Sancho was withdrawn midway through the second half, he put in a promising showing nonetheless.
Even in an eventual 2-1 loss to the Dutch side, Mats Deijl doubling Go Ahead Eagles’ advantage on the hour mark, this was a performance that Villa and Sancho can take encouragement from.
Stats back up strong Sancho showing
Admittedly, he couldn’t influence the game in the way he would’ve liked, yet it wasn’t for want of trying. Sancho managed two shots, created one chance, and attempted four take ons as the wideman sought to leave a lasting impression.
Emery worked wonders to bring the best out of Marcus Rashford during his brief stint at Villa Park last season. The signs are positive that Sancho could follow in his former United teammates’ footsteps.
With the games continuing to come thick and fast for the Villans, who face Manchester City this weekend, it’s comforting for Emery that he can finally call upon Sancho with greater regularity. United were reportedly concerned at a lack of game time from the England international.
Sancho looking to follow in Rashford’s footsteps
After Chelsea paid a £5m fee to send Sancho back to Old Trafford over the summer, the lack of action worried United as they sought to claw back some of the £73m they paid to secure his services. Sancho is out of contract in the summer, though United have the option to extend that by a year to protect his value. They need Sancho to be playing and hitting the heights he showed at Dortmund.
Villa, therefore, should have been viewed as a viable destination for Sancho to rebuild his career. Rashford saw a resurgence prior to injury. The player and his parent club will want to see similar this time around. It’s a deal that also benefits Villa. While there is no obligation to make the move permanent, if there is a chance to retain Sancho’s services beyond the summer; they may just take it.
Villa’s winning run came to an end at the Eredivisie side on Thursday night. However, if there was one positive to take despite a dominant performance, then it was Sancho’s showing down the left. It certainly gives Emery food for thought in attack this season.