LONDON • Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta insists the much-maligned Jorginho will eventually silence the critics because he is reaching peak form ahead of today's crucial Premier League home clash against Watford.
The Italy midfielder has endured a difficult first season after his ponderous displays made him a target for the club's frustrated fans.
Blues boss Maurizio Sarri brought Jorginho with him from Napoli in the close-season having identified Chelsea's midfield as a weak link.
He believed the player was the right man to help implement his tactical game plan after they worked together successfully in Serie A.
It has not turned out that way as Chelsea, with N'Golo Kante pushed out of his preferred defensive midfield role, struggled to adapt to "Sarri-ball", leading to criticism for both Jorginho and his manager.
But Azpilicueta pointed out the influential performance of Brazil-born Jorginho, 27, at Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday as proof of his importance.
Even when patched up due to a bandaged head wound, he was the key figure in their 1-1 draw in the Europa League semi-final first leg.
Azpilicueta said: "It was an important game for him. He grew into the game by getting more control, creating more space for the two attacking midfielders where he could find them in very dangerous positions.
"He can create that pass and move forward. It also meant we could enjoy more space in front of us."
Jorginho's performance gave the platform for fellow midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek to give one pf his best club displays, including the assist for Pedro's equaliser.
Now the Blues return to Premier League action as FA Cup finalists Watford visit Stamford Bridge.
Sarri's fourth-placed side are guaranteed to qualify for next season's Champions League via a top-four finish if they win beat Watford and Leicester in their last two games.
Chelsea, two points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal (66), can also reach the Champions League by winning the Europa League.
Should the Gunners not win today at home to Brighton, the Blues will be assured of a top-four spot with a victory over Watford.
Following his impressive performance, Loftus-Cheek could be an important player in the tail end of the season but Sarri believes he should not overexert the player.
He said the 23-year old will never truly overcome the back problems that have frustrated his season and his senior career, and will always need to follow a personalised fitness and training programme to maximise his game time.
The midfielder, who has a curve in the spine in his lower back, has suffered muscular spasms since he was a teenager and, along with a specific training routine, has taken up yoga to manage the problem.
"I don't think he will need surgery," said Sarri. "But we have to control him.
"In the last month he has been able to train every day so, for us, it's really very important."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, THE GUARDIAN
CHELSEA V WATFORD
Singtel TV Ch103 & StarHub Ch228, 8.50pm
Football: Iran and Iraq qualify for last 16 with easy wins ABU DHABI • Carlos Queiroz has warned that Iran can only get better, after Sardar Azmoun struck twice in the 2-0 win over Vietnam yesterday to ensure they qualified for the last 16 of the Asian Cup.
Iraq National Football Team
Italian legend Fabio Cannavaro appointed head coach of China. China have appointed Fabio Cannavaro as head coach of the national team Ex-Italy star has been Guangzhou Evergrande's manager in the
Sarri is expected to return to a back four this coming season as he seeks to create an attack-minded side based around possession of the ball, movement through the thirds of the pitch and the technical quality of his players on the ball. Read More. Maurizio Sarri hails 'wonderful player' Jorginho and issues update on Alvaro Morata's future
Football: United confirm huge Mourinho payoff; 'Class of 92
Tottenham Hotspur date for Singapore. Tottenham players like Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Danny Rose and Son Heung-min are expected to be in Singapore as part of their pre-season tour in July
ICC 2019 - tickets on sale for Shanghai and Singapore dates
Crowds flock to Argentine village to pay tribute to footballer Sala. The player's body was recovered from the submerged wreckage on 7 February but 59-year-old Ibbotson remains missing.
Crowds flock to Argentine village to pay tribute to
What They Said: Moyes on top four, Gerrard eyes title glory Saikat 17 March, 2014 Blogroll , David Moyes , English Premier League , General Football News , Liverpool , Manchester United , Site News , Steven Gerrard
Can draw specialists Hearts halt Celtic's push for SPL glory?
Juventus 2-1 AC Milan: Moise Kean puts Juve on brink of Serie
Spurs blasted for lacking hunger, mental strength. Wizard Hazard rescues a point for Blues. China could be dethroned: Ryu. Quah wraps up Pac-12 with second individual gold. Leaving it all on the
Mauricio Pochettino accuses Tottenham of 'arrogance' and
A crackdown on booming MTA overtime costs is coming — and carrying a whiff of labor unrest from transit workers. "The company brought this problem upon themselves and now they're trying to blame the workers," John Samuelsen, international president of the Transport Workers Union, told THE CITY on Thursday.
The Ticking Clock of Leicester City's Youth Movement
LONDON (AFP) - Brighton moved into the FA Cup quarter-finals for the second successive season as goals from Anthony Knockaert and Jurgen Locadia clinched a 2-1 win over Derby on Saturday (Feb 16)..
Brighton edge into FA Cup quarter-finals | Aaj News
Eleven Sports hit by poor take-up rate in UK, Football News
There's no doubt," Pochettino said. "There's no doubt that Hugo is one of the best and he's going to be in the goal. "It's a situation that is so painful because I think we deserved more (at Liverpool), but in that kind of situation, which happens in football, it's only to be strong and back our player.
Pochettino gives backing to under-fire Lloris | theScore.com
Man City fans say Blues show perfect qualities to push Liverpool FC in win over Bournemouth. Manchester City beat Bournemouth 1-0 in the Premier League despite fatigue and injuries affecting the squad
Man City fans fear another nightmare after shock change for
'Happy' Morata slays Malta. Mar 28, 2019, 5:00 am. Football: Morata double gives Spain win over defensive Malta. Mar 27, 2019, 6:04 am. Schar's concussion sparks calls for Uefa probe.
'Comfortable' Morata slays Malta - Latest News
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch champions league live streaming bt sport
watch coppa america live streaming usa
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
watch premier league live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch soccer aid live stream
apps to watch live streaming soccer
watch soccer online free streaming live in english
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch live streaming of premier league football
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo 7
watch champions league live streaming cricfree
watch usa soccer live stream online
watch premier league live streaming zee tv
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
watch champions league live streaming video
watch soccer live streaming mobile
watch champions league draw live stream total sportek
watch soccer online free streaming live cricfree
watch soccer am live stream
watch soccer world cup live streaming
watch champions league live streaming espn
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
watch soccer live football streaming - ronaldo7.net
watch champions league live streaming jamaica
watch sky sports premier league live streaming
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch coppa america live streaming english
live football watch free live football streaming free soccer
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch champions league live streaming juventus
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
watch soccer live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch coppa america live streaming free
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch coppa america live streaming reddit
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch premier league games live stream
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch soccer live streaming hd
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming philippines
watch champions league simulcast live stream
watch coppa america live streaming free online
free watch champions league live streaming
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch us soccer live stream
watch champions league live streaming live
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch soccer live streaming xfinity
watch premier league live streaming free
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
watch soccer online free streaming live first row
watch champions league live streaming crictime
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch champions league live streaming ptv sports
watch champions league live streaming bein sport
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming free
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch soccer live live football streaming cr7
watch champions league draw live streaming free
#cristianoronaldo #Liverpool #petercrouch #copaamerica #soccer #league2 #barcelona #acmilan #elcasico #PartyTime #oudmehta #salah #thebeatles #comico #Celtic #fut #oasisandbeatles #chocolate #thomasmeunier #Bar #americanfootball #kroenkeout #hotcoffee #bestshishacafedubai #JUVENTUS #arsenalfantv #streamingbolaid #Suarez #realmadrid #livestreaming #boxing #football #championsleague #uefanationsleague #leomessi #GarageCafeDxb #vandijk #realmadrid #footballmemes #soccerbible #cristiano #bayern #liverpoolfans #winner #ucl #MyDubai #trollfootball #comics #firmino #golf #afcnews #premierleague #paulmcartney #24x7 #beatifulgame #premierleague #klopp #kopisusu #meunier #Fcb #england #pagani #Vip45 #zinedinezidane #lfc #freekickerz #liverpool #tokyo #liverpoolcity #lovefootball #zidane #mane
0 comments:
Post a Comment