SANCHO 'NOT CUT OUT FOR BIGGEST STAGE'

£72m man faces huge season next term to prove he can shine in Premier League

- STEVEN RAILSTON

JADON Sancho was rescued when the electronic board was raised on the touchline in the 78th minute of the FA Cup final.

Erik ten Hag shouted at him just moments before his substitution and Sancho looked relieved to find refuge on the bench.

The occasion of playing at Wembley can get into some players’ minds and Sancho suffered against City.

He was anonymous throughout the match and shrunk when his team needed him to rise to the challenge instead. Sancho did not look right from the start. Although it was unintentional, he was the only player not to acknowledge Sir Alex Ferguson when the teams walked out and he shied away from the ball, appearing to be unnerved by what was at stake.

The game was an opportunity for Sancho to make a statement to his former club and perhaps that contributed to his no-show performance. Sancho might have wanted to deliver so badly that he psychologically made it harder to do so.

Sancho looked shackled by the occasion, not buoyed and that’s a problem when you represent United. The pressure of playing for the club is not embraced by everyone and the winger looks increasingly not made for the shirt.