Rangnick: How I’m trying to help Sancho

Rangnick – who has extensive experience managing in the Bundesliga after spells with clubs such as Schalke, Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig – says there’s every chance that a few goals and assists will soon see the creative Sancho flourish.

“With those kinds of players, with those kinds of creative, offensive players, it’s all about confidence,” he stated. “It’s about having that confidence, being aware how good they can be, and then showing it in front of 75,000 or 40 to 45,000 at Villa Park.

“Of course, in the end he has to do that. He has [to make] that step again. As I said, in most training sessions he’s training on a very high level. Now it’s about having the transfer onto the pitch in the Premier League, in the FA Cup and in the Champions League.

“He can do that; he has the ability to do that. There is no doubt about that, but now we have to develop him into that kind of player, showing the same kind of performances that he showed at Borussia Dortmund.

“We can give him the guidelines, we can give him helping hands and show him that we are trying to accompany him on this way, and give all the necessary assistance that he needs, but in the end it’s up to him to take those next steps.”