Jadon Sancho has had the last laugh over Leon Bailey after Manchester United toppled Aston Villa on Sunday at Old Trafford despite a warning before kick-off from the Jamaican international.
A 39th-minute strike from Bruno Fernandes proved to be the difference between the two teams, with the Portugal international responding quickest to lash home after Emi Martinez could only parry Marcus Rashford's shot into danger. The result ensured that Villa's impressive and lengthy unbeaten run under Unai Emery has since come to an end.
The Midlands-based outfit can't say they weren't warned, as on Friday Sancho took to Instagram in the wake of United's 2-2 away draw against Tottenham and vowed that the Red Devils would do all they could to bounce back with a win the very next game.
"Disappointed not to come away with the win last night! On to Sunday to make things right!” Sancho wrote to his followers on Instagram.
That post did not evade the attention of Villa winger Bailey, who opted to raise the stakes for Sunday's showdown and reply: "Let’s see about making things right", alongside a laughing face emoji. It was a comment that would backfire and then some.
United got the better of Villa as Sancho got the better of Bailey, both on and off the pitch as, of course, the Red Devils wide man did not forget about the comment left on his page once the three points were secured.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Where will Man Utd finish this season? Comment below
Sancho replied long after the full-time whistle on Sunday night with the eyes emoji, a gentle reminder to Bailey that he hadn't forgotten about the Villa man's confidence before the game.
It was a collective United performance that pleased boss Erik ten Hag a great deal, as he told the media: "It's about mentality and character and I think that is what we have seen today.
"First, good football and then, in the second half, we showed character, we were determined and passionate."
He did go on to admit that United can't spend too long sitting back and admiring their own work and urged his players to avoid any distractions.
"We go from game to game. And so the next game is Brighton and you have to do the same, don't get distracted and not think too much about the table.
"I'm sure we are totally in control. It's all about us – it's in our hands. We have to bring the same, at the minimum, against Brighton, because we know it's a tough team from our experience in the semi-final and we have to go again."
Ten Hag did not issue any comment on Sancho's individual performance following the win over Villa, but the United boss will surely be delighted to see the £73million man look some way closer to his best after a difficult season.
The 23-year-old missed a large portion of the season mid-way through the campaign after Ten Hag deemed Sancho not 'physically or mentally ready' to feature on a regular basis after the World Cup.
Finally, at long last the Manchester City academy graduate looks much closer to the player United thought they were getting when they forked out the eye-watering transfer fee in the summer of 2021.
Both Sancho and Ten Hag are likely to have earmarked next campaign, where Champions League football is expected, as the one where the wide-man can really kick on and influence proceedings as predicted in front of the Old Trafford faithful.
