The midfielder, Jorginho has not featured for Chelsea since the Premier League return and is unhappy at being left on the sidelines by coach Frank Lampard.
Coronavirus has turned the entire football world upside down. From the major issue of the very existence of clubs and the loss of fans from stadiums to new detailed tactical systems and fresh selection of headaches. In summary, every individual within the game is forced to access their options.
For Chelsea midfielder, Jorginho, life on the pitch could not be more different.
Before COVID-19 enforced football shutdown, Chelsea’s vice-captain was a regular under Lampard. The only skipper Cesar Azpilicueta had played more minutes across all competitions than the Italy international.
Jorginho now finds himself very much on the fringes at Stamford Bridge.
The 28-year-old is yet to make an appearance since the Premier League restart project having been an unused substitute in each of Chelsea’s last four league and cup games.
It was telling that when N’Golo Kante went off injured in the 78th minute of Saturday’s win over Watford, that it was teenager Billy Gilmour and not Jorginho who Lampard ushered from the bench to take the French International’s place.
Kante has been deployed in Jorginho’s favored No.6 since the restart. With Gilmour’s emergence from the club’s famed academy system, it is not unfair to suggest Jorginho now finds himself at the very best, third in the pecking order.
This is quite a fall from grace for the former Napoli start.
“I don’t want to go into the personal details. I just have to pick a team as I see best. They are just my choices”. Said Lampard when asked about Jorginho.
“He has been very professional about it. He wants to play as every player does. One of the hardest parts of the job is telling a player who is not playing or picking a squad and leaving out player”.
“Jorginho always trains well. He has handled it professionally and that’s what I would expect. It is important for players in a long season with the competitive squad that we have, that they are there to support players when they are out and he has done that. So, we will see with my selection tomorrow”. Added Lampard.
What happens to Jorginho
Quite understandably, Jorginho is unhappy with the current situation at Chelsea. It is rumored that Sarri is keen to reunite with the midfielder at Juventus-a fact that has not been lost on Lampard and continues to frustrate the boss with the season still ongoing.
It had been suggested that Juventus would offer Miralem Pjanic to Chelsea aS part-exchange for Jorginho. But, the Bosnia Herzegovina international has since agreed to join Barcelona as part of the deal that will see Arthur Melo swap Camp Nou for the Allianz Stadium.