JORGINHO has revealed he thought about quitting Chelsea over fan boos for being Maurizio Sarri’s go-to-guy but the ‘unfair’ criticism spurred him on.
The Blues ace felt he was being singled out by supporters during his first season at Stamford Bridge in 2018.
The midfielder was brought to West London by his former Napoli boss Sarri for £57million in the summer of 2018.
It didn’t take long for him to receive stick from fans for his slow, possession-based “Sari-ball” style of play, which even led to boos from his own supporters during a Europa League clash.
Sarri used Jorginho as the deepest lying midfielder so golden boy N’Golo Kante could wander higher up the pitch, despite many believing he would have been better suited as a holding midfielder.
During the gloom-laden days of the Italian boss’ 11-month reign, Jorginho found the net and assisted just twice in 37 Premier League appearances, before Sarri jumped ship at the end of his first season.
Jorginho told FourFourTwo: “Last year, fans were picking on me a lot because I’d arrived with another manager and, in my opinion, I ended up hearing some things that were honestly unfair.
“But I’ve never challenged the views of the fans and other people who criticised me. Quite the opposite, actually – it gave me strength because inside I knew they were wrong.
“Deep in my mind, it was like this: ‘I’m going to prove they’re wrong and work quietly like I’ve always done, because it’s never been easy for me’.”
Sarri replaced Massimiliano Allegri as Juventus manager in the summer of 2019 and Jorginho revealed that he almost followed suit following the harsh criticism he received.
He continued: “I’ve gone through moments like this at every club I’ve played for – this low moment when doubt can come and make you wonder, ‘Should I just leave this place? Maybe there isn’t room for me here,’
“But I embrace this kind of challenge, and I’ve never backed down. It gives me more strength to work even harder, to prove to everyone that I can make it.”
Under Chelsea legend Frank Lampard, the midfield maestro has undergone a huge spike in form and popularity, winning over the Stamford Bridge boo boys.
Before the top fight was KO’d by the coronavirus crisis, Jorginho had clocked up 37 appearances in all competitions, scoring seven goals and registering two assists.
Jorginho has hailed Lamps for publicly backing him and helping him win over hearts in West London.
He added: “I thank him for the sincerity he showed towards me in public. He didn’t have to do that, and not every manager does it. He’s a legend inside the club, so people listen to what he says.”
Speculation has been rife that Sarri would attempt to forge a reunion at the end of the season by bringing the midfielder to the Allianz this summer.
But the Italian’s agent has insisted his client is very happy in West London and is set to agree terms on a new deal with the Blues.
