"He plays such a conservative game" - Ex-Chelsea star warns Jadon Sancho that he's too easy to play against after Nottingham Forest draw
Chelsea's summer signing Jadon Sancho has been warned that his place in the playing XI could be under threat if he continues playing conservatively. Former Blues forward Tony Cascarino has slammed the England international for being "far too easy to play against" after a meek performance in the club's 1-1 draw at home to Nottingham Forest.
Chelsea, flying high under new manager Enzo Maresca, dropped two points at home against 10-man Nottingham Forest on Sunday, October 6. Sancho started the match but didn't manage to trouble the Forest full-back Ola Aina before being substituted in the 90th minute for Mykhailo Mudryk.
The visitors took the lead through Chris Wood early in the second half (49'), but the hosts struck back quickly through Noni Madueke's effort (57') after cutting in from the wing. Despite Forest being reduced to 10 men in the 79th minute after James Ward-Prowse was sent off for a second yellow, Chelsea failed to grab the three points.
Cascarino highlighted Sancho's performances against Forest, highlighting that he's a "tidy player" but needs to show more dynamism to keep his place in the starting XI.
He was quoted as saying by the Metro:
"The truth is that he [Sancho] made it easy for Nottingham Forest’s right back Ola Aina to play against him. There is no question Sancho is a good player, and his touch is almost always really sound, but he plays such a conservative game."
"He never got into a physical battle with Aina and never tried to take him on. Sancho is not slow but he doesn’t have that burst of acceleration to get at defenders," he added.
Sancho joined Chelsea on loan from Manchester United after a public bust-up with United manager Erik ten Hag.
Cascarino compares Sancho to other Chelsea wingers
Jadon Sancho started on the left wing with Noni Madueke on the right and Cole Palmer behind Nicolas Jackson. Cascarino advised Sancho to learn from the directness of his teammates, praising the goalscorer Madueke.
"It [Sancho's performance] was such a contrast to Noni Madueke on the other wing: he was going at his full back all game, and it always felt like a battle for Forest to contain him," he said in the same interaction.
"Madueke is way more direct than Sancho, he gets to the byline and always looks to take on his defender," the player-turned-pundit shared his observation.
Madueke looks to have reinvented himself at Stamford Bridge under Maresca, scoring five goals in eight matches across competitions this season.
Cascarino also highlighted the competition for places and warned Sancho that he could lose his place unless he tweaks his game.
"Sancho can’t afford to be mediocre: he has to offer more if he is going to be picked ahead of players such as Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Mykhailo Mudryk," Cascarino warned.
"Even in the few minutes of injury time that Mudryk was on, he gave Forest problems with his directness," he added.
Chelsea's deal to sign Sancho on loan reportedly includes an obligation to buy for under £30 million next summer.