Tony Cascarino reckons Jorginho looks like a “five-a-side-player” amid criticism directed at the Italian international in recent weeks.
Despite impressing in his regista role early in the season, the former Napoli midfielder’s performances have gone under the microscope recently. In the seven most recent matches the Brazilian-born Italian has played, the Blues have only found the net five times, prompting questions about Jorginho’s influence on the pitch.
Jeers for Jorginho
In the match against Newcastle United, exasperated Chelsea supporters turned on Jorginho as the west Londoners struggled to create chances in the final third. While the £57 million signing has set Premier League records for his passing, he is yet to register a single assist for the club.
Despite Jorginho’s metronomic passing playing an important role in Maurizio Sarri’s preferred style of play, he does not possess the recently-departed Cesc Fabregas’ “final pass” ability, which proved critical in unlocking tight Premier League defences.
However, the problem lies not only with the ex-Napoli schemer but with the whole Chelsea squad, and this is something that Cascarino expounded on in a recent interview. The former Blues striker went on to say that the midfielder has become something of a scapegoat during the Blues’ recent struggles in front of goal.
“Jorginho has become a bit of a scapegoat,” said the former Blues forward. “The atmosphere towards him at Stamford Bridge, the finger is pointed at him and I feel sorry for him because it’s not just him. But he was bought for a lot of money and other clubs wanted him.”
Cascarino went on to praise the 27-year-old midfielder’s superb attributes as a pivot, adding that the west Londoners fail to tick as a team when other sides employ tight man-marking on Jorginho.
“But I look at him and I just think, ‘wow, you look like a five-a-side player!’
“He’s light, he’s got a great touch and moves it around, but any team that smothers him, gets onto him and press him, Chelsea really do struggle then to get the ball to any position and look like a dangerous side.”
