Lampard can count on leadership of Jorginho
AS Maurizio Sarri’s most prominent signing, he might have seemed like a spare part in the Frank Lampard era. Yet there are signs that Jorginho, the naturalised Italian born in Brazil, the man coveted by Pep Guardiola who ultimately chose London over Manchester, may thrive even under Chelsea’s new managerial regime.
If Sunday against Manchester United was not an ideal start in an over-offensive midfield, then Wednesday’s night’s UEFA Super Cup, where N’Golo Kante offered immaculate protection, made Lampard take note.
Not just of the technical excellence, which has never been in doubt, but as much of the leadership Jorginho offers on the pitch. Lampard places great stock in character so the indications are that the player has made a lasting impression on his new manager.
‘We had generals on the pitch, people like Jorginho,’ said Lampard, enthusiastically reviewing the 2-2 draw with Liverpool, which ended in undeserved defeat on penalties.
‘He was fantastic, constantly talking to people around him, constantly dragging people up to get the [defensive] line up and playing with quality. They, the players, are the ones that drive that when they get out there. That was the most pleasing thing for me: the spirit and attitude of the players. It felt really special.
‘Jorginho’s a fantastic player and I saw that in the first day of [pre-season] training in Dublin. I keep talking about his attitude, but he’s a driver of the group.
‘He has real quality and I’m fortunate in midfield areas at the moment as it gives me problems in terms of the competition of Kanté, Jorginho, [Mateo]
Kovacic, Mason [Mount], Ross [Barkley] and Ruben [Loftus-Cheek] coming back. But Jorginho has already shown himself to me to be a top-class player and I was pleased to see his comments [about not wanting to be seen as Sarri’s signing].
‘I agree with him. He should be seen as Chelsea’s Jorginho. As a player, you know you go and work for the club. He has a real passion for football. And for performance. I love that.’
For all the kind words about Wednesday and even some encouraging signs amid the 4-0 defeat at Old Trafford, Lampard will know that if he loses today at home to Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester, his first week in Premier League management will be marked down as pretty awful. Chelsea cannot afford a bedding-in process, even while they have key players out, such as Willian, who may be back today, Antonio Rudiger, who will likely have to wait a week and Callum Hudson-Odoi, who will be back after the international break.
Rodgers, with his Leicester side which includes Youri Tielemens prompting in midfield, perhaps the best signing of the summer, is well capable of inflicting such a reverse. Rodgers and Lampard know each other well, the Leicester manager having formerly been a youth team coach at the Chelsea academy under Jose Mourinho. The family link continued when Rodgers asked Lampard’s father, Frank Snr, to work with him at Reading.
‘I had a lot of contact with Brendan,’ said Lampard. ‘As we’re trying to do here now, the link between the academy and the first team needs to be strong. It’s a big part of the club. He was over here a lot, in the first-team building [when he was academy coach].
‘The thing that probably stood out for me was the detail of him as a coach. He wanted to speak, wanted to ask questions, wanted to learn and was big on details in his sessions in how he organised them and forward-thinking. He stood out for me, on those terms.
‘After that, when he moved on and went to Reading and Watford, he took my dad as a consultant. He was two days a week working and they worked quite closely. I certainly appreciated that, getting my dad out of the house. From then on, I’ve had a good relationship with Brendan. I saw him on holiday a couple of years ago by chance and we always have a chat. I have top respect for him.’
When they last met competitively, it was Rodgers’ coaching nadir: the infamous 2014 clash between Mourinho’s Chelsea, with Lampard as player, and Rodgers’ Liverpool, which featured Steven Gerrard’s slip and Demba Ba’s goal which cost Liverpool the title.
‘I wouldn’t say that was a high for Chelsea because we hadn’t got what we wanted that year as we couldn’t win the League at the end stages,’ said Lampard.
‘We went to Liverpool and beat them in a really tough match. They were absolutely flying and blowing everyone away.
‘I did feel for Brendan on a personal level. I knew what a team he put together there and how close they were to doing something special.
‘I know that, not just as a manager but as a player. I’ve been there when it doesn’t quite go your way.’