Jadon Sancho: "When I hit my peak at Borussia Dortmund, that's when I've arrived"
The first Englishman as well as the first player born this millennium to represent Borussia Dortmund, Jadon Sancho has already written history at the Ruhr district giants, yet says his Bundesliga journey is only just getting started.
"I haven't hit my peak," Sancho, 17, told the club's official YouTube channel. "When I've hit my peak, then that's when I've arrived, but I definitely feel comfortable right now.
Although currently out with an ankle injury suffered in Cologne on Matchday 21, Sancho made three consecutive starts on the left wing at the beginning of 2018 after impressing new BVB coach Peter Stöger at the club's January training camp in Marbella.
Watch: Sancho told us recently he's in a "happy place" in Dortmund
"I got used to the players more," said Sancho, reflecting on the trip to Spain, during which he shone in friendlies against Fortuna Düsseldorf and Zulte Waregem. "I wanted to show what I could do in Marbella and obviously then come back and play."
That he did, and after catching the eye of his Austrian coach, Sancho earned a starting berth for consecutive games against Wolfsburg, Hertha Berlin and Freiburg, picking up a first professional assist when he set up Shinji Kagawa for the equaliser in the 1-1 draw at the Olympiastadion.
If that was a promising first step, then the next milestone to be achieved on Sancho's road to hitting his peak is a maiden top-flight goal.
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"I want to score," the teenager said, when asked about his aims for the rest of the season. "That's one of my main things: to score, and obviously to keep winning. Let's keep on doing well for the team. That's what I want to happen, and also to try to be a regular for the team."
That Sancho can talk so readily so early in his Dortmund career about such lofty aims is testament to how quickly he has settled in. The south London native, who joined BVB from English Premier League leaders Manchester City on transfer deadline day last summer, credits his quick adaptation to the support of two senior colleagues.
"I've settled in really well," Sancho said. "I've got my place in Phoenix-See [an area of the city where most of the players live]. Mario Götze helped me. Nuri Sahin helped me. I'm just grateful that they've helped me."
