"Jadon Sancho reminds me of a young Franck Ribery" - Ottmar Hitzfeld

Former Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has been so impressed with Jadon Sancho this season that he has likened the English teenager to a young Franck Ribery.

Sancho,19, has scored eight goals and provided Europe-leading 13 assists for Bundesliga frontrunners Dortmund in his second campaign of top-flight football, earning public acclaim and four senior international caps for England along the way.

Hitzfeld is a big fan, and the 70-year-old has compared the former Manchester City youth player to Bayern's 35-year-old veteran winger Ribery, whom he brought to the Bundesliga from Ligue 1 outfit Marseille in his final season as coach of Germany's record champions.

"Sancho surprised everybody," Hitzfeld told Omnisport. "He's a gifted player, very fast, technically perfect, he always has a trick up his sleeves. He reminds me of a young Franck Ribery, who was also very tricky and going for goal as a young player. Sancho is like that and he has the pace to make a name for himself in international football."

Watch: The story of Jadon Sancho

Hitzfeld also believes Sancho's career is best served in the Bundesliga, a division synonymous with youth development and one which Ribery has gone on to win a record-equalling eight times since moving to Bayern in 2007 at the age of 24.

"For [Sancho's] career, it would certainly be better to remain at Dortmund," affirmed the retired German tactician - himself a seven-time Bundesliga champion as a coach (five with Bayern, two with Dortmund).

Jadon Sancho has made 39 Bundesliga appearances since joining Borussia Dortmund from Man City in summer 2017. - 2018 DFL

Sancho could meet Ribery for the second time in his Bundesliga career on Saturday when Dortmund travel to Munich for Der Klassiker. The Englishman made a telling contribution to the return fixture, dispossessing Ribery in the build-up to Paco Alcacer's decisive goal in a 3-2 win, and Hitzfeld believes BVB - two points better off than Bayern going into the game - have the edge.

"The momentum is in Dortmund’s favour because they won their last match [against Wolfsburg]," he explained. "They scored two goals in injury time. That boosts confidence levels and brings a special mood - you could see that in the pictures after the game. It will be a real challenge for Bayern's defence."

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