Midfielder Jorginho and the “Sarri-ball” style of play

In his first season, coach Sarri implemented the football philosophy “Sarri-ball” at Chelsea. He is currently reaping success, because he has the right personnel. Meanwhile, in his third season at MU, Mourinho is still struggling to define a playing style for the Red Devils.

Go first and come up empty-handed

Coach Maurizio Sarri has proven that Jorginho is the player who understands the football philosophy “Sarri-ball” better than anyone else. Photo: Internet

The Portuguese coach was the one who discovered the talent of the Brazilian star in Napoli's shirt. Jorginho always played very attractive football, overwhelming with his versatile passes and diverse attacking ability. Jorginho is the face that Mourinho is aiming for. Not simply to replace Carrick, but the Italian star of Brazilian origin is expected by the Portuguese coach as a factor for the revolution at Old Trafford.

Previously, MU had midfielder Pogba full of energy and technique but this player's erratic mentality always made MU struggle. Matic is also not a bad name, playing aggressively and diligently but creativity is something that this midfielder cannot satisfy MU fans.

At Mourinho's suggestion, MU sent representatives to negotiate with Jorginho and Napoli. At the end of March 2018, sources from Italy and England reported that MU had completed the first blockbuster deal for the new 2018-19 season, paying Napoli 50 million pounds to get Jorginho.

However, the developments that followed were beyond MU’s control, after many clubs jumped in to disrupt the situation, from Liverpool to Chelsea, Man City and PSG. At the end of the 2017-18 season, Mourinho once again requested to buy a creative midfielder. The number 1 priority was Jorginho, then Fred, a fairly average midfielder and only a tired reserve in the Brazilian squad…

In the end, Fred arrived at Old Trafford for £53 million, while Jorginho arrived at Chelsea for just £50 million and signed a five-year contract.

Conductor of “Sarri-ball” style of play

Chelsea under Sarri has a very different image from Conte's time. From being pragmatic and emphasizing safety, The Blues now always dominate the ball to suffocate their opponents. Surpassing Pep Guardiola's Man City, Chelsea is the team with the most passes in the Premier League, with 5,728 passes (Man City passes 5,639).

Jorginho leads the way in terms of individual passes. The Italian international has made 853 passes, far surpassing the second-placed Aymeric Laporte of Man City (742). Jorginho is also the player with the most touches of the ball in the Premier League, up to 931 times, most of the moves that The Blues deploy go through Jorginho's feet.

Remember, Paul Pogba made the most passes in the Red Devils' squad, but only 554 passes (only 64.9% of Jorginho's passes) and Fred was still sitting on the bench. It seems that Mourinho needed a game organizer, someone who could hold and distribute the ball, but the MU leadership responded with midfielder Fred who only knew how to use his muscles.

It was Jorginho, with his excellent ball control, who opened up space for Eden Hazard to have the most explosive period of his career, leading the list of top scorers with 7 goals.

In the Blues’ “Sarri-ball” system, Kante now plays on the right of Chelsea’s central midfield three. He is freed from the task of sweeping the area behind the midfield and in front of the defence to dribble, pass, and even attack in the penalty area.

Simply put, coach Maurizio Sarri has proven that Jorginho, the player who understands his philosophy better than anyone else, is the factor that can help speed up the implementation of “Sarri-ball” at Chelsea. This coach also proved that with Jorginho, the team at Stamford Bridge has more attacking options, their goal is not only to stop at the Premier League but also to think about the European arena.

With Jorginho, a player who continues to break records for touches and passes, Chelsea has transformed from a defensive counter-attacking team under Antonio Conte into an attacking controlling team.

BuildNew Lampard

MU should have had Jorginho's service. Photo: Internet

Coach Maurizio Sarri was trusted more by the Stamford Bridge owners than Mourinho when he brought his student to Chelsea, who already had Kante - the best midfielder in the Premier League for the past 3 seasons.

Coach Maurizio Sarri believes Kante is much more versatile than what people think of as a pure defensive midfielder. Sarri's intention is to awaken that "sleeping" talent of the French player, turning him into a new Frank Lampard. In fact, Kante is increasingly making intelligent moves behind the opponent's defense, like a real attacking midfielder.

If Jorginho recreates the memory of the crushing 0-4 defeat at Stamford Bridge in October 2016 - one of the heaviest defeats in the "Special One's" coaching career, Mourinho will probably be very hurt. Not to mention, the defeat could lead to Mourinho being fired!