Bundesliga
BVB hopes to quickly integrate Sancho and Maatsen
Returns to BVB: Jadon Sancho. photo
© Martin Meissner/AP-POOL/dpa
BVB made two transfers just in time before the restart of the Bundesliga. But how quickly can Jadon Sancho and Ian Maatsen help the recently faltering team? There isn’t much time left.
Football coach Edin Terzic is counting on the two new arrivals to be integrated quickly Jadon Sancho and Ian Maatsen in the Dortmund squad. “We hope that they will immediately be an important factor for us,” said the 41-year-old.
Terzic left it open whether the two loan players from Manchester United and Chelsea FC, who were only signed shortly before the Bundesliga restart, would be in the squad for the game on Saturday (6.30 p.m./Sky) against bottom club SV Darmstadt. According to the BVB coach, full-back Maatsen seems to have a better chance of making his first appearance: “He’s a bit further ahead than Jadon because he had appearances at Chelsea shortly before Christmas.”
Both new additions should contribute to a successful comeback. After a mediocre season so far and the last four games without a win, the fifth-placed team has to worry about participating in the Champions League again. There are great expectations associated with Sancho’s return, although the 23-year-old former BVB professional has not played a competitive game since August following his falling out with United coach Erik ten Hag. “He showed up here with a huge smile. We’ll wait for the next session and see how many minutes he has left in the tank,” said Terzic.
The fact that there is no purchase option for both loan players and that they will probably leave BVB at the end of the season cannot dampen Terzic’s anticipation: “In a coach’s life, six months of planning are already long-term. It’s about filling the present with life .”