With Chelsea holding on to a 3-2 win against Crystal Palace with ten minutes to go, Frank Lampard introduced Jorginho to his side for the first time since the restart of the Premier League – and may well have saved the three points in the process.
Jorginho Proves His Importance Against Crystal Palace
A Valuable Member
Over the past couple of months, there have been rumours that the player is likely to leave the club, with N’Golo Kante seemingly making the role of deep-lying midfielder his own, and Lampard’s decision to replace the injured Frenchman with Billy Gilmour further enhanced this gossip.
Yet, despite only playing for a fraction of the game, Jorginho’s stellar performance against the Eagles proves exactly why the Blues need to keep hold of their £50 million man, his leadership and composure on the ball playing a vital role in Chelsea’s win.
Jorginho Bosses Palace
When Jorginho was brought on for Gilmour, Chelsea were pinned back in their own half, struggling to get hold of possession and failing to find a way out from the back. Since half-time, Roy Hodgson’s side looked calm on the ball and were keeping Chelsea under pressure, boasting 56.4% possession until the substitution in the 80th minute.
Once Jorginho stepped onto the pitch, though, that all changed, with the Blues increasing their share of the ball by over 20% in the final moments of the game. This improvement in fortune is largely down to the midfield maestro, whose 90% pass success rate helped Chelsea to wrestle control of the match when they needed it most.
Jorginho added some resilience to the Chelsea midfield, which previously looked overwhelmed by the physicality and work-rate of Palace’s veterans. The Italy international managed two tackles while he was on the pitch, one more than Mason Mount and Ross Barkley combined. He used his experience to orchestrate Chelsea’s defensive efforts and rally his team at a difficult time, with his addition to the game proving another masterstroke from his manager.
The Importance of the Italian
The midfielder’s display against Palace is just another example of what Jorginho can do in this Chelsea team. The fact that he has only two assists this season reflects more on the Blues’ attacking players than the midfielder himself, with Jorginho averaging more key passes per game than his rival, Billy Gilmour.
He is also a calming influence on the ball, with the player averaging 72 passes per game – higher than any player besides Antonio Rudiger – achieving a remarkable success rate of 88%.
What is most impressive about Jorginho, though, is his leadership. As Chelsea’s youngsters continue to develop, Lampard needs to make use of every ounce of experience in his squad, and Jorginho is one of the most mature men at his disposal.
The fact that the number five has scored six goals from the spot this season is testament to his cool-headedness, especially considering his unorthodox penalty-taking technique, and it is that unflappable personality that the team from West London desperately need as they seek to secure their place in the top four.
If Juventus come in with a significant offer for Jorginho, Chelsea will undoubtedly listen – especially with rumours suggesting figures could be as high as £57 million – but with Kante proving injury-prone and Gilmour still having a lot to learn, Lampard may regret parting with the Brazilian-born playmaker.
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