Everton’s Masterclass In Negating Jorginho Provides Clubs Blueprint To Halt Sarri’s High-flying Chelsea

It was a match made in heaven when Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri brought Italian international Jorginho from Napoli. Jorginho joined his former Napoli boss in July this summer and since then he has been pivotal in Chelsea’s unbeaten run in the Premier League. On Sunday, when Chelsea hosted Everton, both teams played out a goalless stalemate. Everton boss Marco Silva had his tactics spot on in this match as his players man-marked Jorginho thwarting any attacking threat Chelsea possessed. Stats suggest Jorginho’s passes in the league so far has been the lowest in the match against Everton. His 50 passes against the Toffees was the lowest for him in the 12 matches already played in the league.

Though Everton could only manage a draw against the Blues, Silva’s strategy in nullifying Jorginho’s threat in the middle of the park gave the Evertonians a crucial point. Both Gylfi Sigurdsson and Richarlison ensured Jorginho didn’t get to see the match throughout the match.

Speaking after the match, Silva admitted Eden Hazard remained Chelsea’s key player but added that Jorginho was the most important player in the Chelsea team. “We blocked well Jorginho and, in my opinion, he is one of the key players in Chelsea this season. It was one of the keys to block Jorginho. It was fantastic work from Sigurdsson and Richarlison in the first moments and then with Gomes and Gueye. My opinion he is one of the keys in Maurizio’s system and model this season”, he said.

With Everton keeping Chelsea’s attacking threat at bay, his new tactic against the Blues could pave way for a new blueprint for other Premier League managers to follow.

After the international break, Chelsea visit Spurs in a Super Sunday clash at the Wembley Stadium on November 24 while Everton host Cardiff City the same day in the Premier League.