Chelsea midfielder Jorginho told ESPN Brasil that his club’s supporters have “the right to complain” about his performances this season but he is determined to change their minds.
Manager Maurizio Sarri has utilised Jorginho as the heartbeat of the Chelsea midfield since the pair arrived from Napoli last summer, and has kept faith with the Italy international even as a disappointing start to 2019 has seen both men become targets for supporter criticism.
Jorginho’s name was booed by sections of Stamford Bridge when Sarri brought him on as a second-half substitute against Malmo in the Europa League earlier this month, while in recent weeks misplaced passes and mistakes on the pitch have been met with audible frustration and even anger.
Asked by ESPN Brasil how the criticism has affected him, Jorginho replied: “With technology, we see everything [said about us] — and very quickly. The important thing is to know how to deal with the situation.
“I am calm because fans are like that: when you don’t win, they complain. They have the right to complain, but I remained calm. I will continue to do my job and, without doubt, I believe I can show my worth and change their minds.”
Jorginho leads the Premier League in passes per game (89.6) this season and has a 90 percent success rate despite often being man-marked by opponents, but he has come under fire for failing to register a single assist as well as being criticised for a perceived lack of defensive work rate.
His efforts to win back the favour of Chelsea fans took another hit on Sunday when he missed the opening penalty of a dramatic Carabao Cup final shootout against Manchester City, but said that he did not dwell on his own spot kick.
“Not winning affected me, not fans’ criticism,” he said. “I was down because we really wanted to win this final.”