N’Golo Kante back in his favoured position – Is Jorginho out the door at Chelsea?

It is a debate that has been going on since things started to go wrong for Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea in the Premier League last season. The position on the pitch of Jorginho – a new signing from Sarri’s previous club Napoli and the subsequent change in role for N’Golo Kante who, over the last few seasons, had been recognised as the best defensive midfielder in the world.

One is player who has received plaudits for his ability with the ball at this feet, the orchestrator, the conductor of Sarri’s football and someone who had appeared to have their own way with space and time to play in Italy. The other, a terrier on the pitch with unrivalled energy to work hard to protect the defenders behind him and to hunt down the ball in midfield to win it back. You would imagine having more luck at best payout casinos online rather than try to take on N’Golo Kante!

Jorginho and N’Golo Kante have complete opposite characteristics from each other and in my eyes, it has always been plain to see. N’Golo Kante plays in the deep midfield role in front of our back four with Jorginho playing pushed further forward where he can influence the game with the ball at his feet. It seems that most Chelsea fans (and other football fans around the world in general) were of the same opinion.

Maurizio Sarri was not. In Italy he had success with Jorginho playing in a deeper midfield role but with the emphasis being deployed as a pivot to receive possession of the ball, turn and play the ball forward. That was the primary focus of his role with the defensive side of the game secondary. In Serie A, Italy the game is played at a slower pace, is not as physical as in England and Jorginho thrived.

So, I take you to the debate that played out for two thirds of last season and the beginning of this season. Maurizio Sarri moved N’Golo Kante further forward in midfield and asked him to play as a box-to-box midfielder which is a waste of his talents. Although playing well and adapting to that role, if he could not protect the back four he would be better off heading to casino en ligne. He then deployed Jorginho in a pivot role in front of the Chelsea defence, asking him to do as he had back in Italy.

For the first ten games or so last season it worked but as soon as opposition teams in the Premier League realised that if you stop Jorginho, you stop the Chelsea supply going forward, we began to struggle. Jorginho could not cope with a lack of time and space, he could not defend and protect the defenders and with N’Golo Kante playing further forward, we conceded goals with results going against us.

There are other factors in games we lost last season and goals we conceded but I firmly believe that if Kante played in his usual role, things would have been different averaged out over the course of the complete season.

This season Frank Lampard has surprised all of us by implementing Jorginho & Kante in the same roles as Maurizio Sarri! Jorginho has improved the defensive side of his game without question but is still nowhere near as effective as Kante playing there. The rise of Mateo Kovacic under Lampard this season so far cannot be underestimated however, with his willingness to work hard in defensive areas offering support to Jorginho.

So to lockdown and the postponement of football worldwide. As the weeks passed with no indication if it would return and if so when, the transfer rumour mill continued to operate in full flow with players representatives and agents looking for better deals or big moves for their clients. It happens every transfer window and Jorginho’s agent has been talking ever since he arrived at Chelsea

In the weeks leading up to the Premier League restart, we heard him talk up a move back to Italy with Juventus in particular who are now being managed by Maurizio Sarri who took up the position after leaving Chelsea after a single season. Jorginho had been labelled as a Sarri Player and had been questioned of such before his season had started. He responded by saying that he was his own man and wanted to be recognised a such proving himself to the Chelsea fans this year which we can all agree was commendable.

Now, his agent began to talk of Juventus and how much of an honour it would be to play for one of the giants of football. The media jumped on it and there had been constant speculation regarding a big money move by Sarri to take him back to Italy when this current season is finished. To this point, Jorginho’s agent has denied any communication has taken place but it’s clear that there is substance in the reports.

Move forward to the current day with football back albeit on our screens and Chelsea have now played three games. What stands out for me so far in the games against Aston Villa and Manchester City in the Premier League, Leicester City in the FA Cup with Jorginho suspended for the first game against Aston Villa, is that he has remained on the bench has not played a single minute so far.

N’Golo Kante has played all three games back in his favoured position in front of our back-four defence and has been outstanding as a result. He looks much more comfortable; dare I say it but “at home” in that role. As a result, our back-four are confident knowing that he is there to protect them and it’s a point to note that the two goals we have conceded so far have been one ball floated into the box and a free-kick.

Manchester City at home was arguably our biggest game of the season as far as the race to the top four goes and Frank Lampard to selects N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount and Ross Barkley to start leaving Jorginho on the bench. Even with FIVE substitutes available due to new temporary rules between now and the end of the season, Jorginho was not involved with FOUR replacements being made. In addition, Leicester and a rotated squad starting the game last Sunday, Jorginho once again was not involved in the game in any way although named as one of nine substitutes available.

Both Willian and Pedro are out of contract at the end of the season and have both expressed their willingness to stay at the club and sign temporary extensions to play their part in the final weeks at Chelsea and the fight for the FA Cup and a top four finish. Willian has started two out of the three games and started as captain against Leicester. Pedro was a second half substitute against Leicester.

It is my view here that Jorginho will leave Chelsea this summer now. If his agent wanted to start the ball rolling or to at least put the wheels in motion ahead of the transfer window he has succeeded. Manchester City and now Leicester are the biggest indication that Frank Lampard intends to stick with those who remain committed to the Chelsea cause in these final few weeks.

N’Golo Kante back in his favoured position demonstrating that there quite simply is no-one in the world better is great to see. Unfortunately for Jorginho, that signals the end 

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