Aston Villa clashed with Maccabi Tel Aviv in a Europa League fixture on Thursday evening, and Jadon Sancho’s performance was put under a microscope by fans.
Unai Emery’s side were undone in their previous European clash, losing to Go Ahead Eagles in something of a shock result.
It left the Midlands outfit 10th in the table with six points from their first three matches prior to November 6’s meeting.
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Villa can earn a decent cash boost if they win the competition this season, something Emery has done on multiple occasions throughout his career, but they first need to make it out of the groups.
Photo by Ben Roberts – Danehouse/Getty ImagesAston Villa fans praise Jadon Sancho vs Maccabi Tel Aviv
Maccabi Tel Aviv had not won a game in the Europa League this season prior to kick-off, but that wasn’t clear during large periods of Thursday’s tie.
Villa’s build-up play was far too slow in the first half, and the majority of their players looked as though they were uninterested.
One of the few bright sparks for Villa was Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho, who received praise from fans for his performance on the left wing, linking play nicely with Morgan Rogers and goalscorer Ian Maatsen.
One fan wrote: “Sancho solves so many of our issues down the left side, very similar to JJ in a lot of ways. Time for him to start a run of games.”
Sancho solves so many of our issues down the left side, very similar to JJ in a lot of ways. Time for him to start a run if games.
The right side however…… #AVFC
— Chris Trotter (@ChrisTrotter161) November 6, 2025
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A second added: “Rogers and Sancho cooking saving this from being an all-time stinker.”
“Sancho, Rogers and Maatsen this left-hand side. Please tell me you are watching carefully Unai,” tweeted a third.
Another Villa fan stated: “Every time I see Sancho, I like what I see, all the attack comes down that side.”
A fifth echoed: “Was just about to say that anything good we do is coming from Rogers, Sancho and Maatsen. Brilliant link up & sublime finish.”
“Not the best 45 of football, but gotta say Sancho is impressing me,” stated a sixth.
Manchester United could let Jadon Sancho leave for free
Another Man Utd loanee, Marcus Rashford, has given Sancho the blueprint to revive his career, and while it’s been a slow start for the winger, Thursday’s performance was promising.
The 25-year-old has only played 69 minutes of Premier League football and has yet to provide a goal contribution.
But his link-up play against Maccabi Tel Aviv may well sway Emery into handing the Red Devils ace a more prominent role moving forward.
Man Utd did not include a break clause in Sancho’s loan, and a recent report from talkSPORT claims the Reds are happy to let his contract run down so he can depart for free.
Whether Villa would be interested in securing a permanent move for the player next summer remains to be seen.