Chelsea player ratings vs. Watford: Jorginho and Kovacic at the centre of it all

Jorginho, Midfielder: 8

Chelsea fans have never seen Jorginho make a pass like that. Napoli fans may have never seen Jorginho make a pass like that. You might need to ask around the Hellas Verona community to find out if Jorginho has ever made a pass like that.

What do we mean when we say “a pass like that?” Well. The play started with Kurt Zouma, who passed the ball to Mason Mount, who had dropped level with Watford’s midfield line. As soon as Mount received the ball, Jorginho looked up field to see Tammy Abraham standing directly between Watford’s two centrebacks. Mount took a few touches on the ball and, just as he released the ball to Jorginho, Jorginho took another look to see how Abraham was moving relative to the centrebacks. Jorginho then sent the pass first-touch through the lines, with enough spin to curve towards the centre of the pitch and then move laterally upon bouncing so it came right in front of Tammy Abraham.

The two scans and the movement on the ball are what we are mainly talking about when we say “a pass like that.” Jorginho did not pass to where he “knew”(i.e., hoped) Tammy Abraham was going to be per the playbook. He did not send the ball into space hoping someone would be there. Jorginho looked for Tammy Abraham. He confirmed Tammy Abraham. He then found Tammy Abraham, not with a floated dink pass over the top, but with a pass that had more power and movement than any other we have seen from him.

For 20 minutes or so after the goal Jorginho’s confidence was understandable high, and he looked like he was searching perhaps a bit hard for another assist. Even so, Jorginho linked play more quickly and purposefully, and he and Mateo Kovacic developed a strong rhythm in every stage of the game. They became a powerful and creative tandem for bringing the ball out from pressure.

The second half, though, was a regression to the mean. Perhaps he and Kovacic became a bit hubristic, as they started playing tippy-tappy keep-ball tekkers in increasingly dangerous positions.

We are not excusing Mike Dean and Anthony Taylor one bit by saying Jorginho never should have been in that position when the penalty was awarded. Seconds before he tackled Gerard Deulofeu, he was dilly-dallying on the ball in the box, trying to complete skills challenges rather than clear the ball. Jorginho did nothing wrong viz. Gerard Deulofeu, but he did with his defensive duties.

And if you’re going to get your fifth yellow, it should not be for time-wasting.

Mateo Kovacic, Midfielder: 8

Mateo Kovacic is becoming Chelsea’s most multifaceted player. His dribbling up the middle in transition is progressing from a good option to have available to being among the club’s most potent weapons. He completed five dribbles – joint most with Christian Pulisic – all coming in the defensive or middle third.

Kovacic is not just bringing the ball through midfield while the other players set up. He is pushing back on whatever press the opponents are trying to play, letting his teammates run at the opponent’s back line when a ball comes towards them.