Jadon Sancho insists he's doing everything to become 'a better player' as the Borussia Dortmund star eyes glory in the Champions League final... and admits it was 'hard' to get over Euro 2020 shootout final heartbreak

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Jadon Sancho has insisted he's constantly working towards being a 'better player' as he eyes glory in the Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund. 

In September, Sancho was ostracised at Manchester United and sent back to Dortmund on loan in January after falling out with manager Erik ten Hag. 

In a social media post, Sancho effectively branded Ten Hag a liar over his reasons for leaving the player out of his squad because he had not trained hard enough. 

However, Sancho can have the last laugh when he plays for Dortmund against Real Madrid in the Champions League final at Wembley, a week after Ten Hag won the FA Cup there in what could be his last game in charge. 

Now, the United loanee has admitted that - despite what people may think - he is constantly working towards being 'a better player'.

Jadon Sancho is eyeing up European glory ahead of Saturday night's Champions League final

After being ostracised at Manchester United, it's been a remarkable comeback for the winger

Speaking to the Mirror, he said: 'I don't think anyone would have expected this. Me being in a Champions League Final. I'm so happy. I'm blessed.

'Game by game I've just been working on myself, trying to be a better player. Doing extras behind closed doors. Everything I do is for the team and I'm thankful to them - and the staff - for welcoming me back.

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'I can't thank my mum and dad enough. Also my siblings. I know what my mum will say. She'll be like: "Win or lose, I still love you son!" My dad will probably be messaging my phone now saying: "Are you training??" But regardless, my whole family will be proud of me.'

It was recently revealed by United forwards coach Benni McCarthy Sancho refused to apologise to Ten Hag because he believed it would have meant admitting he was lazy and unprofessional - which is far from the truth.

The winger went on to discuss his return to Wembley for a final, which brings memories of the Euro 2020 final nightmare that he, Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka endured.

The Three Lions stars stepped up in England's penalty shootout with Italy and all missed, which brought a barrage of online abuse for the players. 

Reflecting on that, Sancho said: 'It was hard. The backlash wasn't nice. Being in London, not in a million years would I have thought we would receive that. It's a memory I try to block but I just have to be positive.

'Its football for you. People say things in the moment I am sure they don't mean. But they have to realise that when they say those things it does impact us. After that it was the summer break and that summer was hard. Just reflecting: "Why did it have to be me?"'

Sancho took time to reflect on his miss in England's Euro 2020 final shootout defeat to Italy

The Borussia Dortmund winger admitted it was 'hard' to mentally recover from that moment

It's a been a difficult path back to the top for Sancho, who refused to back down on his stance at United despite a conversation with forwards coach McCarthy.

‘I spoke to Jadon as a coach, as a mentor, as a friend, and as someone who grew up on the streets and knows the code,' McCarthy said.

‘But Jadon just wasn’t seeing it. He said, “I ain’t apologising because if I do, I’m apologising for being lazy, always being late, not giving my best – that’s what I’m apologising for”. Those were his reasons".

‘I spoke to the manager and I said to him that you know the delicacy, and I think Jadon feels that if he apologises then he's going to be classed as someone who doesn't train hard, doesn't work hard, that everything that was said against him was true.’