Chelsea’s Jorginho should not play against the big six

After a subpar performance from the Italian midfielder, is it time for the former Napoli man to look for a new home other than Chelsea in world football?

I’m well aware of what some of my counterparts on this website have said regarding Jorginho and his part of the Chelsea squad. In all likelihood, this is going to seem very diplomatic, but the role Jorginho plays in the Chelsea squad is still applicable. However, there’s no reason to have him playing against any of the other “Big six”. For those unaware, the big six is stereotypically Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, and Arsenal. It is against these teams Jorginho is ineffective.

Why? Specifically, against Liverpool was he so underwhelming? Countless times that trademark Liverpool press showed why. Sadio Mane, Mohammad Salah, and Roberto Firmino pressed up and tried to force the Chelsea defense to go long. It’s what forced Kepa Arrizabalaga into the error which led to the second of the Liverpool goals. To avoid that press, one needs to be able to move the ball from back to front at speed. One needs to be able to transition defense into attack instantaneously. Jorginho cannot do that, he slows down the game almost to a walking pace, which allows the pressing attackers to catch up and force the passing play back to the defense to end up at square one. This is fine against a team like Norwich of last season, or when the team is leading and need to kill time, but not when chasing a game.

Compare him to a midfielder of a more attacking mindset in Mateo Kovacic. Countless times, Kovacic picked the ball up and was trying to get the ball up to Kai Havertz, Mason Mount, or Timo Werner. Kovacic was getting into the space that’s left behind the midfielders when they press up to move the attack forward. Jorginho doesn’t do that. Jorginho almost plays like a rugby player. Saying that now, most people will not understand the reference so let me elaborate. In rugby, the ball cannot go forward. It has to be passed side to side or backward. This is very comparable to Jorginho. It’s almost a fear of progressing the game.

Against the “lesser teams”, with all due respect to the rest of the Premier League, Jorginho dictating the passing tempo when he’s got time and space is an asset. Against teams that sit back, he’s like a metronome in the midfield, just keeping things moving and not letting it stagnate.  However, it needs to be against these defensive teams that he dictates the play because his pace and just mental speed isn’t quite up to scratch for the Premier League.

Who could play in midfield instead? It would not be recommend doing something beyond the realms of thinking outside the box and playing the big summer signing in his natural position. Crazy right? Kai Havertz playing at attacking midfield with Kovacic and N’Golo Kante behind seems like a midfield too good to be true. If one of them is hurt, suspended or in need of a substitution, players of the quality of Billy Gilmour, Mason Mount, Ross Barkley, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and even Hakim Ziyech who can play in midfield. There’s a time and a place for Jorginho, just not in major games against the champions of England when everyone knows he’s struggling with staying up to game speed.

However, I am not the Chelsea gaffer. As much as I’d like to be, I am not Frank Lampard and Lampard knows what it takes to be a good Premier League midfielder. Lampard does know one or two things about being an all time great in midfield, so please do not take some fool’s opinion here for fact. I in no way claim to know more about this squad than any other fan, but like everyone else, I woke up this morning a little angry and wanted to get something off my chest.

So, tell me why I’m completely wrong. You’ve not failed to let that happen so far this month, so why not continue the trend. Should Chelsea sell the Italian international? Should Chelsea keep him? Should they use him against the big six? Should they only use him against the “weaker sides” (again, said with all due respect)? Please let me know why you think that I’m wrong.