Friday, November 1, 2019
Football Nerd
How Jorginho's passing became vital to Chelsea
By Alistair Tweedale Football writer
How times have changed for Jorginho. For almost the entirety of last season - his first in English football - he was a Granit Xhaka-like lightning rod for criticism of Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea side.
What wrangled for so many was just how much Chelsea - and Jorginho in particular - passed the ball. On and on moves would go. The Italy midfielder would be involved every time. He both attempted and completed more passes than any other player in the Premier League in 2018/19, yet he didn’t manage a single assist. What, the fans wondered, was the need for such a relentless commitment to passing ad infinitum?
Of course there was far more method to it all than Sarri or Jorginho were given credit, but it has nonetheless taken until Frank Lampard’s appointment, an impressive run of goals and a seven-game winning streak for the feel-good factor at Stamford Bridge to reach Jorginho. He is now feeling the love of the Chelsea fans.
Chelsea are more direct under Lampard, so there is less ponderous passing and fewer touches for Jorginho. Play still goes through him, though, and he is noticeably more effective. Not only in the win at Wolves did he finally break his Premier League assist duck, but this season he tops the Premier League for involvement in moves that end with a shot.
More chances have been created in passing sequences that have involved Jorginho than any other player this season, with 46 Chelsea shots culminating from moves in which he played a part. Clearly, there is some point to him, after all.
Jorginho is six clear of his nearest challenger at the top of this table, with Manchester City’s Rodri in second place after being involved in 40 moves that result in a chance. Six of the top eight are, perhaps unsurprisingly, also City players.
The only other non-City player in the top eight is from a club you might not expect to see up here: Brighton’s Dale Stephens, who has been involved in 35 passing sequences ending with a shot. Given Brighton rank 13th for total shots attempted this season, with 86 - meaning Stephens has played a role in more than 40 per cent of his teams attacking moves - he must be considered among the most valuable passers in the top flight.
Way down the list on 22 ‘involvements’ in attacking moves is Arsenal’s best player in this regard, Xhaka. He has endured similar struggles in convincing his own supporters of his worth, but he obviously plays a key role for Unai Emery’s side. Though it might just take him doubling his tally and challenging Jorginho if he is to win over the fans that so deride him.
Pick of the week
"Xhaka was wrong in reacting to the ironic cheers when he was subbed. Although he issued a statement on Thursday, it was also a mistake not to issue an immediate apology to try to defuse the tension. But on the list of misdemeanours of recent Arsenal captains, I would suggest it is a relatively tame offence."
Jamie Carragher why the booing of Granit Xhaka is not only an Arsenal issue.
