Jorginho still looking to prove critics wrong, and win something with Chelsea, too

Jorge Luiz Frello Filho’s journey from humble beginnings to the upper echelons of world football is one worthy of plenty of attention, though the player himself continues to divide opinion in the sharpest of ways, even now, nearly two years removed from the shadow of Maurizio Sarri.

But the one thing that’s undeniable about Jorginho is that, having overcome such disadvantages in his early career, he’s never shied away from facing up to the narrative forces marshaled against him and doing his utmost to try to prove all the naysayers wrong. In the process, he’s fulfilled his stated goal of becoming Chelsea’s Jorginho rather than Sarri’s, and he’s continuing to be a key player for the club, be that under Frank Lampard or Thomas Tuchel.

In his latest interview, with the Daily Mail, the 29-year-old recounts some of his formative years and experiences, while also hyping up Chelsea’s ambitions for this season and beyond.

“I received a lot of criticism and I can accept that. Everybody has an opinion and I don’t always agree but I can respect it. It motivates me to work harder and do better and keep proving they are wrong. Sometimes I do feel unappreciated but I don’t get disappointed.”

“[Tuchel] understood my characteristics. The way to play with short passes when we need short passes and long balls when we need long balls.”

Having reached the semifinals of both the Champions League and the FA Cup, while also still on track for a top-four finish, Chelsea’s season could yet end up quite glorious. But it’s a thin line between success and failure and how we reflect on this season could come down to just a handful of games here now at the business end of the season.

“This is a great moment for me — a great moment for the team — but we can’t get too comfortable. We must be humble and keep pushing.”

“We are working hard, everyone in the same direction. It is coming together at the right moment. But what we achieve this season is a consequence of how we move forward. If you get too comfortable you don’t achieve very much. If you are hungry to win, win, win then you can achieve something at the end of the season.”

As Vice-captain, Jorginho must show that hunger and lead the way not just on the pitch, but off it as well, including for today’s FA Cup semifinal against Manchester City (the team we gazumped in 2018 for his signature)!

“Every team can be beaten. You just need to find the right moment and understand how to do it. Against a team like that, you need to be prepared to suffer and work really hard.”

-Jorginho; source; Mail

Let’s hope this is our moment indeed.