'Irresistible' Jadon Sancho shows what Man United miss as 'lucky' PSG and Kylian Mbappe slammed

Jadon Sancho is the new darling of the German media after his standout performance for Borussia Dortmund against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night.

The 24-year-old didn't score or assist but still put in arguably his best display since leaving Manchester United on loan in January.

He was central to the effective attacking moves by Edin Terzic's side as they edged an entertaining semi-final first leg 1-0. Niklas Fullkrug may have scored the only goal of the game but it was Sancho who was picked out for his impact.

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German football expert Jan-Aage Fjortoft took to Twitter/X to voice his thoughts on the winger. "Sancho on fire" he wrote simply.

That was echoed online as well by Sky Germany. "Dortmund’s dribbling king," they wrote. "Who especially played a knot in the legs of Nuno Mendes.”

That came after he completed seven dribbles in the first half of the game alone - more than he managed in any of his 58 appearances for United.

He also became the first English player to manage 11-plus take-ons in a single Champions League game. The last time that figure was met by anyone was Lionel Messi in the 2008 final against the Red Devils themselves.

Spox said: “Twelve ball losses in the first half alone were clearly too many but otherwise, a lot went well for Sancho. Most of the attacks of the hosts came over his right side: For example, the super combo with [Julian] Brandt and [Marcel] Sabitzer, which almost led to the early lead.

"Irresistible start even before Dortmund’s great opportunity after just over an hour gave the secret playmaker at BVB the most ball contacts.”

Sport added that he, “seized the game more and more. After the break then bear strong. Did what he wanted in his best phases on the outside track. Would have actually deserved an assist.”

In the French media he also got the plaudits. "But Paris can also consider itself lucky because defensively, it was too often overwhelmed by the accelerations of Jadon Sancho and the percussion of Julian Brandt," wrote the normally stingy L'Equipe.

It led to criticism of Mendes in particular, who received a particularly low rating from the outlet. "Like the duel between Jadon Sancho and Nuno Mendes on their side, the semi-final first leg of the Champions League turned to the advantage of Dortmund (1-0) this Wednesday," they wrote. "Facing a PSG that was sometimes mishandled and sometimes imprecise."

Meanwhile, French football expert Julien Laurens also noted Sancho's quality. "Another great game! Incredible atmosphere, Sancho excellent, both teams missed big chances and it could have finished 2-2!" he wrote on social media. "Second leg in Paris will be epic!"

It was the German media that really went in depth on Sancho though. RAN said: “He then works out his extra class more and more. PSG’s defence could hardly get a grip on him. Brilliant how he prepares big chances.”

Ruhr24 added: “Sancho is getting better and better. His dance was better through the Parisian sixteenth after just under half an hour. With increasing playing time, more and more dangerous. Many good dribblings. The best BVB player of the evening.”

Sport1 were also full of praise. “Played his best game since his BVB return," they said. "Sprayed with the joy of playing. Especially at the beginning very noticeable. Often on the ball. Went into dribbling again and again. With his playfulness, he remembered the Sancho from past days.”

It came as Kylian Mbappe was left without anything to show for his own performance. "The France captain was not particularly poor but wasn’t eye-catching either," write the Athletic. "In those moments, PSG need another solution."

On the other hand, Seb Stafford-Bloor described it as, "a redemptive, virtuoso contribution from Jadon Sancho." He was also said to have been "the star of the evening."

Rarely, if at all, were the English media ever able to write such glowing reports of Sancho. Food for thought for Manchester United.