Aware that the only reason he moved to Chelsea was because of a controversial fallout with his previous manager, Enzo Maresca was quick to lay down the law with Jadon Sancho regarding his attitude and work ethic.
The 24-year-old swapped red for blue on deadline day last month after agreeing a season-long loan spell with the Stamford Bridge outfit. Given that the terms included an obligation to buy next summer, Sancho is poised to fully cut ties with Manchester United in 2025, having played just two full seasons for the club.
He made only three Premier League appearances last term before his notorious dispute with Erik ten Hag, which saw him cast aside to the reserves and exiled from all first-team facilities until he apologised for insinuating that his manager was a liar.
That, of course, didn’t happen until this summer when, after returning from his temporary spell with Borussia Dortmund, Sancho and Ten Hag decided to bury the hatchet. The player resumed first-team training and featured in the Community Shield but was dropped for the side’s opening two league fixtures.
Upon learning of his absence from the matchday squad vs Fulham, Sancho was overherd affirming his desire to leave. The following week, he travelled with his teammates to the Amex but was omitted from the teamsheet to face Brighton and Hove Albion.
Maresca’s stark warning to Sancho
As such, Maresca was keen to make it clear to the forward that such an attitude wouldn’t be accepted throughout his Chelsea tenure.
Speaking to both Sancho and Joao Felix ahead of their proposed switches, the coach divulged to reporters what he informed the pair, saying: “Listen, we have Jadon, Joao – these kinds of players. Before they joined the club, I had a chat with them, and one of my messages to them was ‘If you come here and don’t work properly, then you are not going to play’.
“Before they arrived, the message for them was clear. For Jadon. For Joao. But [I told them] the reason why I’m speaking to you is because I really like you. If you come here in the way that we want, we are happy. But if you come here and don’t work hard, it’s better if you don’t come.”
