Jorginho booed by fed-up Chelsea fans… but Sarri insists he is still main man
Italian midfielder was rested against Malmo and Blues supporters were not happy to see him replace Ross Barkley
MAURIZIO SARRI told Chelsea’s boo-boys to lay off Jorginho after this Europa League win.
Olivier Giroud, Ross Barkley and Callum Hudson-Odoi scored against the Swedes, but the under-fire Blues boss was unimpressed by the display.
And Sarri launched a staunch defence of his £57.4million midfielder, who was jeered by the home fans when he replaced Barkley after the England ace had put Chelsea two up in the 74th minute.
Sarri said: “In the first 30 minutes we understood why Jorginho is important for our team.
“We were in trouble getting out of our half, on pressing. With Jorginho, it’s easier I think.
“I hope our fans will be able to understand that Jorginho, for us, is really a very important player.”
Sarri slammed his side’s nervy start and warned it will be a disaster if they repeat it in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley.
Chelsea struggled until Giroud broke the deadlock in the 54th minute.
Italian Sarri added: “I think we played the first 30 minutes without confidence. Nervous.
“We were unable to move the ball very fast. We were in trouble on their pressing.
“Then we were a little bit better in the last 15 minutes of the first half and after the first goal we played very well.
“We started to move the ball fast, with confidence.
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“But if we play the same in the first 30 minutes against City it will be a disaster, of course.”
Malmo had Rasmus Bengtsson sent off in the 74th minute — after a second booking — and Barkley made it 2-0 from the resulting free-kick before being subbed.
Hudson-Odoi scored the third as Chelsea fans chanted for him to stay at the club.
The England starlet is stalling on signing a new Blues deal and is said to want to quit.
But Sarri said: “You need to understand that, in the same position, we have Pedro, Willian and Eden Hazard. So it’s not easy for a young player to play with the consistency with his team-mates.
“I want to remind you that Callum, with this one, has played 14 matches.
“There isn’t in England another 18-year-old player with 14 matches in the first-team. So I think that we are using him in the right way at the moment.”
Malmo boss and former Manchester City striker Uwe Rosler said: “I’m so proud of my players but City will ask more questions of Chelsea.”
Sarri scoffed at links to the Roma hotseat.
According to reports in Italy, ex-Spurs technical chief and England assistant Franco Baldini has offered up the job for next season.
Baldini is a consultant at Roma and apparently travelled to London with club president Jim Pallotta to speak to the Italian.
But Sarri said: “I have a contract with Chelsea and it’s difficult to have dinner with Franco Baldini at the moment as he is in South Africa!”