Maurizio Sarri is confident that his Chelsea team can still pick up a result against Manchester City on Sunday, even if pass-master Jorginho is shut down.
The Blues travel to the Etihad on Sunday afternoon hoping to follow up on their 2-0 victory over City at Stamford Bridge in December.
Spurs fear Liverpool to hijack done deal for PSG star Sarri arrived as Chelsea boss in the summer, bringing Jorginho with him from Napoli and the Italy international has become an integral cog in his team.
The 27-year-old has made more passes than anyone else in the Premier League this season, but Sarri is adamant that stopping Jorginho does not mean you have stopped Chelsea. Jorginho has had mixed reviews since arriving at Chelsea
‘They are able to play if you stop Fernandinho and also we’re able to play if you stop Jorginho,’ Sarri said.
‘We have options. Maybe they have more options than us because they have worked on this for three seasons. But I remember that in Naples it wasn’t a big problem if there was a man on Jorginho, so I hope it will be the same here in the future.’
The Brazilian-born midfielder has made 2,219 passes this season but is yet to provide a Premier League assist and has scored just once, from the penalty spot on the opening day of the season.
City can return to the top of the Premier League table with victory over Chelsea, and Sarri knows just how big the task at hand is at the Etihad.
‘It will be really very difficult to be in control of the match. The match is there (in midfield), more than in the strikers,’ Sarri continued.
‘I expect Guardiola’s team want to always be in control of the match, always in possession of the ball and they’re able to do it. So it’s a very difficult match. ‘We are used to having the ball and possession so on Sunday it will be very different. ‘We will try to play our football, but if they are able to play their football, of course, you have to stay lower (deeper).’
