Favre backs Sancho to recapture best form for Dortmund

Sancho became the first Englishman to score a direct free-kick in the Champions League while playing for a non-English side since David Beckham for Real Madrid in 2005.

The forward has been unable to live up to the standards he set last season, when he scored 20 goals and provided 19 assists in 44 games in all competitions.

Sancho's goal against Brugge was his third of the campaign, to go with four assists, in 10 games.

Favre was happy to see the 20-year-old – who was heavily linked with Manchester United during the previous transfer window – on the scoresheet and believes he will get back to his best.

"Of course, I'm really happy that he scored again. A very beautiful goal from a direct free-kick. We have a few players who can do that. He did it really, really well," he told a news conference.

"His goal has relieved us. A two-goal cushion coming one minute from the break was important, that was good for all of us.

"All over, he played really well, ran a lot. But I repeat, it is normal, a player cannot always be in his best shape. Sometimes it's like this, then like that."

That was sweet @ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/Hq6yHsB1nq

— Jadon Sancho (@Sanchooo10) November 24, 2020

Favre added: "I stayed very calm, just like my colleagues. We know what our players are like.

"Sometimes I say that they cannot be in their best form all year. That’s impossible. Last season was special for Jadon. Of course, he should digest that. But he will come back bit by bit."

Erling Haaland scored either side of Sancho's free-kick as Dortmund moved onto nine points, enough to sit top of Group F.