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Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has admitted he is “quite surprised” by the consistency Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho has shown this season.
Sancho joined Chelsea on a season-long loan deal in the dying stages of last summer’s transfer window, with the deal featuring an obligation for the Londoners to sign him permanently this forthcoming summer.
After a slow start to his career at Stamford Bridge as a result of illness, the winger has become a key figure in Maresca’s plans in recent weeks, starting five of Chelsea’s last six Premier League matches, scoring one goal and registering one assist.
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He has made 16 appearances for the Blues in total, scoring two goals and racking up six assists, with six of those direct goal contributions coming in 14 Premier League matches.
Sancho joined Chelsea with the ambition of getting his career back on track and Maresca has hinted his loan spell is going better than he imagined it would do.
“For me he’s doing very well,” said Maresca. “I am quite surprised with Jadon, because I knew Jadon already and I know what I expected from him, but in terms of being consistent, he’s doing very well.
“Apart from a short part of the season when he had some problems, when he was out ill, then for the rest he has been very good.
“I expected him to do well, but for all the players doing well for a long period is not easy, and he has been doing well for a long period already. He’s doing well, now he just needs to continue going in that way.”