Bruno Fernandes has thrown his weight behind Jadon Sancho after the winger's standout debut for Chelsea in their triumph over Bournemouth on Saturday night.
Manchester United's on-loan star shone on his first outing with the Blues, stepping off the bench at half-time to set up Christopher Nkunku's decisive goal at the 86th-minute mark. Subbing in for Pedro Neto, Sancho spurred problems for the Cherries and landed the Player of the Match accolade.
Marking his return to Premier League action since a victorious match against Nottingham Forest in August 2023, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said post-match: "I have a feeling that Jadon is a guy that needs love. This is what I think when I spoke with him before he join us. Also, I know he has the desire to show the player he is, but for me, it is just to enjoy football."
He added emphatically: "This is the reason why they play. They are happy and want to play football, they want to enjoy football and then because they are good, they are going to do good things."
Sancho expressed gratitude for his new opportunity with Chelsea: "I've been working hard for this moment and I'm just happy that I got my chance," he conveyed. Reflecting on his career, he continued, "I had a great end to last season being in the Champions League final. I'm just happy to make my debut for Chelsea. I have to thank all the staff and my team-mates. The first day I came in, they made me feel welcome and I'm so happy to feel this comfortable.", reports the Manchester Evening News.
After making a splash in his Chelsea debut, Sancho took to Instagram to express his joy, posting a celebratory photo with Nkunku and captioning it: "Delighted to make my Chelsea debut and to top it off with a win!" His post drew attention from teammates and rivals alike, including the United skipper.
"Some player you [fire emoji]. Keep that smile," commented Fernandes, showing his support.
Sancho's switch to Chelsea on loan just before the transfer deadline could become a permanent move next season for a fee of £20-£25million. Despite being out of favour at Old Trafford, Fernandes' comment suggests he still holds high regard for Sancho's abilities.
