Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has hailed Jorginho as a ‘leader’ and insists people were wrong to judge the midfielder last season.
The Italy international suffered a difficult first year after arriving at the club from Napoli last summer, with fans often fiercely critical of a player who was seen as a poster-boy for former manager Maurizio Sarri’s tactical approach.
However, with Sarri having departed and returned to Serie A, the 27-year-old is now thriving under Lampard with Chelsea supporters now chanting his name for the right reasons.
Jorginho impressed once again in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Brighton at the weekend, and Lampard has praised the playmaker’s performances and contribution since his own arrival as Sarri’s successor this summer.
“He’s a leader in his personality,” Lampard said in his post-match press conference.
“For whatever reasons, people made judgements about him last season but I can only judge what I see in front of me and from pre-season he’s been one of the leaders in the dressing room and on the pitch.
“He wants to win and to show that in everything you do is so important. He does that so I’m pleased with him. The young players need to look up to that kind of attitude that he has daily.”
Lampard praises ‘experienced’ players for setting ‘standards’ at Chelsea
See also – Chelsea’s worst XI of the Roman Abramovich era
