JORGINHO: CHELSEA’S KEY MAN
THE BLUES CLASH WITH JUVENTUS IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE IN TURIN TODAY
As he prepares for a significant milestone in Chelsea’s Champions League clash with Juventus today, Italy midfielder Jorginho can reflect on the golden year that silenced his critics.
Jorginho will make his 150th appearance for Chelsea in the Group H tie in Turin.
Underappreciated in England until the last few months, Jorginho has emerged as a key player for Chelsea and Italy after winning the Champions League and Euro 2020 in the space of just a few weeks.
The 29-year-old was recently named the Uefa Men’s Player of the Year for 2020/21 and has been mentioned as a leading candidate for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award.
It is a remarkable renaissance for a player who became public enemy No. 1 among Chelsea fans after a turbulent first season with the Premier League club.
“All those who didn’t believe in me, who criticised me, I have to thank them too. They gave me even more encouragement. They motivated me to work harder and harder to prove they were wrong,” Jorginho said. “Everything that happened was thanks to the people that stood by me — family, friends, my agent, my teammates, coaches, physios, kitmen.”
Jorginho was such a scapegoat for the failed Maurizio Sarri reign that for him to be at Chelsea long enough to reach 150 appearances seemed unlikely just 18 months ago.
In his maiden campaign with the Blues, he was relentlessly targeted by supporters frustrated with the team’s unimaginative performances under Sarri.
‘Sarri-ball’ — the manager’s possession-based philosophy — failed to translate from Serie A to the more frenetic environment of the Premier League. And Jorginho’s habit of passing sideways or backwards to ensure Chelsea kept the ball infuriated fans who demanded a more forward-thinking approach.
He was relentlessly targeted by supporters frustrated with the team’s unimaginative performances .
United v Villarreal
Manchester United cross paths with Villarreal once more today in desperate need of a win to avoid another European embarrassment and ease the rising pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The Yellow Submarine emerged 11-10 winners from a marathon penalty shoot-out when the sides last met in the Europa League final in May to win their first ever major trophy.
Defeat extended Solskjaer’s wait for silverware as United boss since taking charge in December 2019, but goalkeeper David de Gea was the fall guy in Gdansk.
The Spanish international’s failure to stop a single Villarreal penalty was compounded when he was the only player from the 22 on both sides to fail to score from the spot.
At the time it looked like De Gea’s days as United No. 1 may be up, despite being one of the highest paid players in the Premier League.
Solskjaer had already handed the reins to Dean Henderson towards the of the Premier League season and his decision not to at least bring on the England goalkeeper, who boasts a far better penalty record, became another
stick with which to beat his management of the final.
But Henderson’s health suffered badly after testing positive for coronavirus during pre-season, giving De Gea the gloves for the start of the campaign.
Despite a mixed bag of results, United would be even worse off if it wasn’t for the 30-year-old’s return to form.