Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Sporting ExcitementSporting Excitement

Premier League

Chelsea star Jorginho had agreed personal terms with Manchester City before Blues move – now he aims to make them pay

, Chelsea star Jorginho had agreed personal terms with Manchester City before Blues move – now he aims to make them pay

JORGINHO could well have been lining up for Manchester City against Chelsea in tonight’s Champions League final.

There are plenty of Chelsea fans who probably wish he were.

Jorgino cracks a smile as he prepares for the Champions League final

The Italian is nearing 100 appearances for the club but still struggles to win over a large body of sceptics who cannot take to his measured style of football.

Jorginho was signed for £57.4million by former boss Maurizio Sarri and his support team, which included Blues legend Gianfranco Zola.

Zola, voted the club’s best-ever player by the fans, spent a year in the dugout trying to convince the punters that Jorginho was worth his place in the team — one he has kept ever since.

In Zola’s 12-month spell Chelsea finished third in the league, won the Europa League and lost only on penalties to champions Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

The Italian legend said: “Maybe the fans just like to see someone who is always flying into tackles, winning the ball back or is knocking players over all the time. He is always questioned. When something goes wrong and Jorgo makes a mistake, it is always picked up straight away.

“But it is no coincidence that the owner of Manchester City wanted to buy him. I don’t know how close they got but he decided to come to us.

“It’s not like he wasn’t being noticed by other clubs.

“If you are a team that wants to be organised, a passing team, then Jorgo is the man.

Jorginho worked under Gianfranco Zola at Stamford Bridge

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPECIAL 30/1 FOR MAN CITY OR 40/1 FOR CHELSEA TO LIFT THE TROPHY

“He is always in the right place supporting defenders and the other midfielders when they have the ball. He is always available when the ball is becoming hot.

“This is a player who never hides. And just look, he played under Sarri but he then played under Frank Lampard and now he is becoming an important player for Thomas Tuchel.

“The fans have to understand that he is perfect for a manager.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

“Jorgo is not only an important player to have control of the ball but he has also been the skipper many times.

“They gave him responsibility, which means they value him as a player but also as a character.

“You can rely on him all the time. A lot of players under pressure don’t want the ball — but Jorgo is not one of them.

“When you have a player who doesn’t hide when you need to control a game under pressure, you value him a lot. Maybe at times people don’t see this.”

Jorginho had agreed personal terms with City before following Sarri to Stamford Bridge.

, Chelsea star Jorginho had agreed personal terms with Manchester City before Blues move – now he aims to make them pay

Jorginho was in and out of the team under Frank Lampard

, Chelsea star Jorginho had agreed personal terms with Manchester City before Blues move – now he aims to make them pay

The Italian is a regular in big games under Thomas Tuchel

He is a regular starter under Tuchel — especially in the big games: the FA Cup final, key Champions League matches and Prem games against the top opposition.

Chelsea face the biggest game on the club calendar with an emerging team.

Zola, 54, was the stylish focus of a Chelsea team also emerging from years of mediocrity to begin the trophy hauling back in the 1990s. The biggest was the now defunct Cup Winners’ Cup in 1998 — and it has led them all the way to the very top.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Zola said: “That was the beginning of what you see now.

“We were a team building and trying to catch up with Arsenal and Manchester United, who were the best in the country then. We were rising.

“I can only smile at the enthusiasm, the supporters… every player was so happy to be part of that team.

“Now it is an established team. Now when you talk about Chelsea you talk about one of the best teams in Europe.

“It’s two beautiful stories in different ways. The club is much more settled.

WIN £50,000!Play Dream Team Euros – our FREE fantasy football game

“The front players will be key in this final. City are so good offensively because they can bring a lot of players forward.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

“They attack very well, are organised and have so many variations in their attacks.

“But in their strength also lies their weakness.

“Because they bring so many players forwards they risk being put under pressure when they lose the ball.

“When you have good players at attacking space, like Mason Mount, Timo Werner or Christian Pulisic, or putting the ball into space, it can be a problem.”

Chelsea have lost three of their last four games and looked a jaded image of the team which embarrassed Real Madrid in the semi-finals.

Zola said: “Back then, if I had  £1,000 in my pocket, I would have put a bet on Chelsea to win it. Right now maybe I would put £500.”

, Chelsea star Jorginho had agreed personal terms with Manchester City before Blues move – now he aims to make them pay

Zola is backing the Blues to win their second Champions League

, Chelsea star Jorginho had agreed personal terms with Manchester City before Blues move – now he aims to make them pay Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Latest

Premier League

Xabi Alonso Prefers to Stay at Bayer Leverkusen Liverpool is in search of a new manager following Jurgen Klopp's departure, but reports suggest that...

Premier League

Major Rule Change The Premier League has implemented a significant rule change regarding ball boys and girls after a recent incident involving Coventry manager...

Premier League

Green Light for Ambitious Project Birmingham City FC is on the verge of finalizing a £50 million deal to acquire an abandoned motor circuit...

Premier League

Dynamic Trio of Best Pals Erling Haaland is known for his pranks, and according to Sander Berge, the close friendship between Haaland, Martin Odegaard,...

Premier League

Nuno's Reaction Nuno Espirito Santo revealed his anger and frustration after being informed about Nottingham Forest's four-point deduction for breaking financial rules, which pushed...

Premier League

Arsenal Fans Rally Behind Jailed Journalist Evan Gershkovich, an Arsenal fan and journalist, remains confined in Moscow's Lefortovo Prison on spying charges laid by...

Advertisement
Advertisement

Facebook

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement