Jadon Sancho of Borussia Dortmund aims for a chance of vindication at Wembley Stadium during the Champions League finals.
A 24-year-old talented winger has been instrumental in Germany's unexpected advancement to the Champions League final. Lent from Manchester United in January, Dortmund is now on the verge of winning their second European Cup title on Saturday at Wembley.
"I'm thankful for the team and the staff for welcoming me back," Sancho shared in a wide-ranging interview with CNN Senior Sports Analyst Darren Lewis in Dortmund recently. "It felt surreal. It hasn't hit me yet. I'm sure when we travel to London, that's when it'll hit me properly."
Sancho admitted to finding it difficult to forge new relationships but connected with Dortmund after being raised in a "one big family" atmosphere back in South London. "It's kind of crazy – I don't think anyone would have expected this: me being in the Champions League final," Sancho shared, expressing his joy.
Wembley holds mixed emotions for Sancho. The English star grew up in Camberwell, South London, and played cage football on the Kennington Council estate. If he could win football's most prestigious prize on that ground, it would be a significant motivation. However, the stadium still bears painful memories from the 2020 European Championship final penalty shootout, where he, Saka, and Rashford missed their shots, sparking racist abuse online after England's loss to Italy.
"This still lingers in my mind sometimes. I haven't fully moved on yet, but I'm trying to overcome it. The backlash we got from it wasn't nice, representing our country," he told CNN Sport. "I still try to avoid thinking about it, but I can't pretend it didn't happen." Sancho remains confident in taking critical penalties, citing one he successfully scored for United against Brighton last season.
In a stunning performance during the semifinal against Paris Saint-Germain, he completed 12 dribbles in front of Dortmund's famous "Yellow Wall," the last player to beat that record being Messi. "To play behind him is an honor. What he's achieved in football is incredible," said Sancho, speaking about his accomplishment.
However, if asked about the greatest player of all time, Sancho points to his former United teammate Ronaldo, who recently became the top scorer in four different leagues. "He's the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) – what can I say? He deserves it. His dedication to the game is unmatched. You know, always in the gym, always striving to be better," Sancho shared. "I had the pleasure of playing with him. What a great guy he was for young players on the team. I learned a lot from him. I was thrilled to assist him against Tottenham – one of his goals and he got a hat-trick. So yeah, that was a wonderful experience."
This weekend, Sancho is set to meet his friend Jude Bellingham, who accompanied him when he joined Dortmund four years ago. "I'm excited to play against him, a real friend and now one of the world's best players. He's right up there with Vinícius Jr., Kylian Mbappé, and Harry Kane," Sancho commented.
"Harry Kane would have been a strong contender for the Ballon d'Or if he'd won trophies this year," said Sancho of another English teammate at rival team Bayern Munich. "Vinícius and Jude, both are in the mix to win the Ballon d'Or. They're close friends, so it's not exactly a competition, but they could claim the award. Mbappé has had an excellent season again, so if he clinched the Champions League or the European Championship, he'd be in contention too."
Sancho spoke to CNN about the anticipated possibility of Mbappé joining Real Madrid, saying, "Mbappé can score goals and create chances. He's a danger to any team worldwide. So, you know, having Vini,* Mbappé, Bellingham, and Rodrygo on the same team must be pretty frightening."
As Madrid appears on the cusp of building a powerhouse football dynasty in Spain, halting this impressive new division with a victory over the 14-time Champions League victor would be a dream come true for Sancho. It might also be the most satisfying method for him to forget the heartbreaking Wembley memories while he transitions to a new chapter in his football career.
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Sancho mentioned playing football on the Kennington Council estate in South London, where he grew up, showing his love for the sport even in his childhood. On Saturday, if Dortmund wins the Champions League, Sancho could achieve his dream of winning football's most prestigious prize on the same ground.
Despite his talent, Sancho faced difficulties in forging new relationships at Dortmund but found a sense of belonging due to the club's family-like atmosphere. Now, he's excited to face his friend and fellow English player Jude Bellingham at Wembley Stadium during the Champions League final.
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