Chelsea's Italian midfielder Jorginho gestures during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on April 28, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
Jorginho has endured a difficult first season with Chelsea after his ponderous displays and strong connection to polarising Blues boss Maurizio Sarri made him a target for the club’s frustrated fans.
Sarri brought Jorginho with him from Napoli in the close-season having identified Chelsea’s midfield as a weak link.
The 60-year-old believed the Italy international was the right man to help implement his tactical game-plan after they worked together successfully in Serie A.
It hasn’t turned out that way as Chelsea, with N’Golo Kante moved out of his preferred defensive midfield role, struggled to adapt to ‘Sarri-ball’, leading to stinging criticism for both Jorginho and his manager from the Stamford Bridge stands.
But Chelsea captain Azpilicueta is convinced Jorginho still has value for his team and he claims Jorginho’s influential performance at Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday proves his point.
Even when patched up due to a bandaged head wound, Jorginho was the key figure as Chelsea secured a 1-1 draw in the Europa League semi-final first leg.
“Jorginho is a very important player for us,” Azpilicueta said.
“Sometimes all of us have struggled because when the results are not there it means we’re not doing the perfect job.
“But this is his first season in England, first time at a new club.
“This was an important game for him. He grew into the game by getting more control, creating more space for the two attacking midfielders where he could find them in very dangerous positions.
“We can see that every time we find him and give him more space he can create that pass and move forward. It also meant we could enjoy more space in front of us.”
– Hungry for more –
Jorginho’s composed performance gave the platform for fellow midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek to give one his best Chelsea displays, including the assist for Pedro’s equaliser.
Now Chelsea return to Premier League action as FA Cup finalists Watford visit Stamford Bridge.
Sarri’s fourth placed side will be guaranteed to qualify for next season’s Champions League via a top four finish if they beat Watford and Leicester in their last two games.
Chelsea, two points ahead of fifth placed Arsenal in the Premier League, can also reach the Champions League by winning the Europa League.
Spain winger Pedro could be a key figure in Chelsea’s final push.
He boasts every major trophy going in a stellar career barring the Europa League and Azpilicueta says the former Barcelona star’s drive to complete the clean sweep is infectious.
“With the career he had in Barcelona, the titles he won for Barcelona and for Spain, he’s still hungry to get more; I think this mentality is very important,” Azpilicueta said.
“His hunger to keep winning is very important for the team. Even if he has won the Champions League a few times, World Cup, European Cup, he wants to win every competition.
“The Europa League is a competition he has never won and you can see that he has a special motivation.
“He has played a lot of games in the competition, he has scored a lot of goals and hopefully he can score a few more.”
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