Unai Emery has delivered a clear message to Jadon Sancho regarding his form and potential future at Aston Villa, emphasising that continued improvement is essential for any permanent deal. The Villa manager acknowledged Sancho's underwhelming start to his loan spell but praised his recent progress, suggesting a long-term stay could be possible if he maintains this trajectory.
Sancho's Loan Spell and Performance
The 25-year-old England international is currently on loan at Aston Villa from Manchester United, having previously had loan stints with Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea. So far this season, Sancho has made 23 appearances across all competitions, scoring one goal in the Europa League. In the Premier League, he has featured in 14 matches, with five starts and nine substitute appearances, providing one assist in the recent draw against Bournemouth.
Emery admitted that Sancho's initial performances were not up to the required standard. 'The first part of the season was not enough. He was working, he was trying, but he was not achieving the performance we needed,' the manager stated. However, he highlighted a significant turnaround over the past month, noting that Sancho has embraced the challenge and shown marked improvement.
Emery's Demands and Belief
Emery has been in regular communication with Sancho, stressing the importance of self-demand and consistency. 'I spoke with him a few times about the challenge we have with him, he has with us, and he must be very, very demanding himself and consistent with himself, like he is now, but more and more,' he explained. The manager emphasised that there is no time to wait, with everyone needing to focus and contribute to the team's objectives.
Despite the slow start, Emery's belief in Sancho has remained steadfast. 'We believe in him at the beginning of the season, we are still believing in him in December, and I still believe in him now,' he said. He described Sancho as a fantastic player who is progressively integrating into Villa's structure and deserving of more playing time.
Contract Situation and Future Prospects
Sancho's Manchester United contract is set to expire this summer, although the club holds an option to extend it by an additional year. When asked about the possibility of signing Sancho permanently, Emery responded cautiously, indicating that discussions have not yet taken place but leaving the door open. 'Not yet, but he is a fantastic player. Hopefully he can help us by increasing his qualities in our structure like he is doing,' he remarked.
Emery acknowledged that Sancho will require a new contract and suggested Villa could be a destination if he performs at his best. However, he also noted that other clubs might express interest, reflecting the competitive nature of football. 'He will need another contract, and maybe it could be here. If he plays his best football, we will want him. But also other teams could be involved in the interest for him,' he added.
Villa's Current Form and Upcoming Fixtures
Aston Villa are preparing to host Brighton in their next Premier League match, aiming to bounce back from a patchy run of results that has seen them win only one of their last five league games. Emery remains positive about the team's overall season, describing it as a process with more ups than downs. 'We are enjoying the process, we are competing, we are feeling comfortable how we are doing our season,' he said.
The manager analysed recent home defeats with the players, focusing on avoiding past mistakes. He expressed confidence in the squad's work ethic and highlighted their strong performance against Bournemouth. 'Now, I am positive. The players as well, they are working very well every day. They played a fantastic game on Saturday, competing fantastic in Bournemouth, and tomorrow, we have a new challenge,' Emery concluded.
