Enzo Fernandez rightly deserves all the hype and he would be a fantastic signing for Chelsea if it was to be completed however a interesting stat was released by stats website Whoscored in a reply over on Twitter regarding forward passes between Jorginho and Enzo.
Whoscored stated that out of all passes this season, 31% of Jorginho’s were forward passes whilst Enzo ranked in at 27.9%.
Could this come down to the simple fact that Chelsea have more forward movement in front of Jorginho or is it that Jorginho is disrespected by Chelsea fans?
Often the scapegoat, Jorginho gets blamed for “passing sideways” too often, yet he statistically is the player who passes the ball forwards more between him and Enzo, who is one of the most exciting midfielders in Europe.
Enzo has more big chances created, long balls and passes into the opposition’s box this season but the idea that Jorginho does not pass forwards should be carefully reviewed none the less.
27.9% of Fernandez's total league passes this season have been forward passes, while 31% of Jorginho's passes have been forward passes
— WhoScored (@WhoScored) January 28, 2023
Just sign enzo for the fee
A single stat tells very little. For example, that stat says nothing about whether the “forward†pass is immediately played back or whether it actually poses a credible threat to the defense. Given our paltry number of xGs this year I’d wager those passes only very rarely “unlocked†(or posed any major threat to) the defense (the way Fabregas used to do with such regularity).
The fact of the matter is that Jorginho is extraordinarily one-dimensional. He has zero (maybe even negative) ability to take on defenders when in possession. This means that packed defenses can remain packed when he’s on the ball in the final third, as he is no threat to do ANYTHING but pass.
On the defensive side of things his lack of speed, acceleration, agility, or physicality means he is easily beaten in transition or in duels. Without the likes of Kante beside him to cover the ground he can’t, he’s a total liability. So, no, supporters do not have it wrong and this stat is only just shy of meaningless.
I suspect that most of Jorginho’s forward passes are about two or three yards, and come straight back to him or a defender