Pochettino not surprised by Sancho's rise at Dortmund
Jadon Sancho has had a remarkable impact since joining Borussia Dortmund, but Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is not shocked.
Published : Feb 12, 2019 20:54 IST
Jadon Sancho left Manchester City for Borussia Dortmund in 2017, feeling first-team football would be easier to come by away from the Premier League.
Ahead of Tottenham's Champions League last 16 home leg against Dortmund, manager Mauricio Pochettino is not surprised by Sancho's rise to prominence at the German club. He was already highly rated after helping England win the Under-17 World Cup earlier the same year, but his performances since have outlined him as arguably the most exciting teenager in world football.
London-born, Sancho will enjoy something of a homecoming against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday and Pochettino believes the success he has had in Germany was to be expected.
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"I haven't been so much surprised with him, because I knew what he was capable of doing what he's doing now, with game time," Pochettino told reporters at his pre-match news conference. We were talking in the last few years that he was a massive prospect to be a very good player. He is showing in Germany that he can handle the Bundesliga and the Champions League."
Still just 18, Sancho has set up nine Bundesliga goals and scored seven himself in 21 appearances this season, becoming a key part of Dortmund's attack alongside Paco Alcacer and Marco Reus.
Champions league a 'bonus'
Spurs scraped through the group stage, finishing level on eight points with Inter and progressing due to a better head-to-head record against the Italian side. Pochettino accepts reaching the knockout phase is a bonus, though he is adamant Spurs are capable of beating any of the sides left in the competition.
"Champions League for a third year in a row is a bonus," he said. "How we are competing in the Premier League and Champions League, to be in the last 16 is a bonus.
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"The other day I saw that from the beginning of December that we're the best team in the Premier League and that speaks very highly of the squad. They are giving their best and I am so proud to be in front of this group of players. I really believe we can win every game we play, but we know this competition is so tough. We are facing a team on the top of the German table. With all respect to the team we're playing, we always believe we can beat anyone.
"If you are honest with yourself with what Tottenham are doing in the last few years, I think it's fantastic from the top to the bottom. It's to try to be closer in the future to winning. It will be tough."