Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has strongly suggested that winger Jadon Sancho will be involved against Chelsea this Sunday, setting a direct challenge for the out-of-favour England international to prove his worth.
Sancho's Point to Prove Against Former Loan Club
The match at Stamford Bridge will see Sancho come up against the club he played for on loan last season. Chelsea had initially agreed an obligation to buy the player but took the decisive step of paying an exit clause to cancel the deal in the summer. Sancho subsequently joined high-flying Villa on a season-long loan.
His time in the Midlands has been frustrating, however. The 24-year-old has made 13 appearances across all competitions without registering a single goal or assist. He has been largely confined to substitute cameos, amassing just 127 minutes of Premier League football so far this campaign.
Emery's Public Challenge to Underperforming Star
Speaking after Villa's impressive victory over Manchester United, Emery was asked about Sancho's role moving forward. The Spanish coach framed it as a mutual challenge for both player and manager.
"Jadon is still young, he has had an amazing career and is now in a moment where he needs to recover his best performance," Emery stated. "I have this challenge with him. He has this challenge with me as well. Of course, he is not playing all the minutes I think he has to."
Emery then delivered the clearest indication yet of Sancho's immediate future: "The first match back he will play is against Chelsea." He added his belief that Sancho, who is being "really demanding" on himself, can find his best form in the second part of the season.
High-Stakes Clash at Stamford Bridge
The context for Sunday's fixture could hardly be more contrasting for the two sides. Aston Villa arrive on a stunning run of 10 consecutive victories in all competitions, storming into third place in the Premier League. They sit just three points behind leaders Arsenal and a significant seven points ahead of Chelsea.
Enzo Maresca's Chelsea, meanwhile, are showing signs of improvement. A comeback draw away at Newcastle United last time out made it four points from their last two league games. However, hosting an in-form Villa side represents a far sterner test as they look to close the gap to the European places.
All eyes will now be on whether Jadon Sancho, with a clear point to prove to the club that rejected him, can seize his opportunity and impact a crucial top-flight encounter.
