After a poor start to his Red Devils career, the former Arsenal attacker must show his Champions League pedigree against Sevilla
It has not exactly been the ideal start to life at Manchester United for Alexis Sanchez, with even Jose Mourinho admitting recently that his January signing has failed to make a real impact thus far.
“What is wrong is that he came at the worst moment of the season, in the winter market,” Mourinho claimed. “That’s why I don’t like the winter market very much. I think it was a chance that we didn’t want to lose and we made it, but we don’t believe a lot in the winter market.
“For sure, next season will be better for him.”
But, as United prepare to face Sevilla in the second leg of their Champions League round-of-16 clash on Tuesday having drawn 0-0 in Spain, they need to start getting more out of the former Arsenal and Barcelona attacker.
His United career is still in its infancy, and his natural game has yet to convincingly match up with his new team-mates’ style. Beyond an FA Cup win at Yeovil Town and his home debut against Huddersfield Town in early February, Sanchez’s contributions have been somewhat covert to this point. Even during their current three-match winning run, the 29-year-old’s influence has been minimal.
However much an initial difficulty might have been expected, Mourinho has previously admitted that part of the reason they signed Sanchez was his potential to make a real difference in Europe.
“Alexis has a level that my attacking players don’t have,” the manager said shortly after the Chilean’s arrival at Old Trafford. “Alexis played Champions League for a few years with different clubs, at least one club that is feeling the responsibility to win it when he was at Barcelona.
“Of my other boys, [Romelu] Lukaku is in the first season in the Champions League, [Marcus] Rashford, [Anthony] Martial, [Jesse] Lingard, just a few matches. We don’t have many with that know-how.
“Part of Alexis’ talent as a player is that he knows what the Champions League is and that is important when you go to the knockout, then the semi-finals. It is for players who know how to compete at that level.”
In the league Sanchez has made little difference to the cause, but any hopes of toppling runaway leaders Manchester City had already long gone before he arrived and he was never expected to slot straight in and shoot United to the brink of an improbable comeback.
It is in the Champions League that his first six months were always going to be judged most markedly, and Tuesday’s Old Trafford fixture is the biggest of Sanchez’s United career so far as a result.
United courted plenty of criticism for their approach at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan three weeks ago, but the stage is now set for Sanchez to be the difference-maker when it counts.
He even has the potential bonus of not having Paul Pogba under his feet, with the Frenchman having played only a minimal part in training on Monday following Friday’s collision with Scott McTominay which left him with a gash in his leg. There is a school of thought that Sanchez’s teething problems have come in part due to him wanting to occupy the same space which Pogba favours, but that cannot be claimed to be an issue if the midfielder is absent on Tuesday.
This clash ought to be the one in which everything is in his favour, and if Sanchez gets it right then former United star Lou Macari agrees he could make all the difference going forward in the competition.
“Beforehand we never looked like a team that could win the Champions League, but with him there stranger things have happened,” Macari told Goal recently.
“There wouldn’t be many United supporters before saying there’s an outstanding chance of us winning the Champions League, but when you sign somebody like him it can be the turning point in your season in the biggest competition there is.”
Sanchez has another four years on his deal beyond this season, so he will have plenty more chances to impress, even should United fall short this time around. But he could really do with kick-starting his United career now, and there is no better nor more fitting stage on which to start repaying the club's massive salary outlay than the one which presents itself on Tuesday. The honeymoon period is over.
Nikhil_Vatsa
158
Its unsurprising because arsenal's style of play and united's style of play is very different.It requires atmost 2 months to completely settle down in a different team.Sanchez is a quality player and I hope he gets back to his best for the club.👍
kinsleeyfred
64
when mourinho said that he does not like the January signings l didn't get it. now l do. he meant that in when you buy in the summer it means the person has more time to adapt to the team and how his team mates play bonding without being judged. club friendlys and training durin di break. he needs to adapt bt l am sure he wil come around
raheem_CFC
60
Sanchez has fallen under the radar ever since joining man u and have failed to put in a convincing performance that he did with arsenal... his presence should've helped man u get better but instead it has affected players like pogba, martial and lingard ago was in supurp form before Sanchez arrival. even though Man U is still winning games they are sometimes for from convincing, and with Sanchez being inconsistent he should be dropped from the starting 11... I'm beginning to think Sanchez wanted to get away from arsenal not for a change and to win trophies, but just for the wealth... he needs to turn up, he needs to show that scoring flair, hunger and great ability he showed at arsenal, or he'll bring a good side in Man United to the same level as arsenal
Namibia2521206
50
Sanchez will not adapt in the defensive system of the coach, he is the attacker he must give pressure to the defenders,look how they play poor against Liverpool the position was bad(70 percent to 30 percent) they even escape the penalty Man u supposed to loose that match.
29356899(deleted)
43
Man United are paying a whole lot of money to Sanchez. He really needs to show that he is worth that huge salary. If he can settle down and play his own game , then things might start happening for him. In the past few games it seems he is trying to orchestrate the team . Not good.
saha4real
26
Sanchez might never be able to completely fulfill his dream at Man Utd Because mourinho playing style differs from Arsenal and Barcelona, he is a defensive minded coach, taking a closer look at Liverpool game how can Liverpool enjoin 77% of possession that's awful, even if you were winning So players like Sanchez can express them selves on the pitch dont blame him he is a good player. Mourinho just need to learn how to make sure his players enjoins attacking and also keeping the back safe.
SalehSalim
26
Lol😂😂😂
rezruz
19
Sanchez is no 10, not a midfielder. He can play alongside Lukaku, but best coming from the left in a free role. He can suit United play where they do not build up, but bring ball forward quickly out of a closed defensive block of six and the four attackers have to sort it out, opposite from what he was used to at Arsenal and Barca. He clearly has problem to adapt, but he has the weapons to succeed in the Mourinho way too.