Italy international Jorginho admits he thought about leaving Chelsea after the fans were ‘picking on’ him, but ‘it gave me strength because I knew they were wrong.’
The midfielder, born in Brazil and moving to Italy as a teenager, made the transfer from Napoli on the same day as coach Maurizio Sarri.
“Last year, fans were picking on me a lot because I’d arrived with another manager and, in my opinion, I ended up hearing some things that were honestly unfair,” Jorginho told FourFourTwo magazine.
Italy international Jorginho admits he thought about leaving Chelsea after the fans were ‘picking on’ him, but ‘it gave me strength because I knew they were wrong.’
The midfielder, born in Brazil and moving to Italy as a teenager, made the transfer from Napoli on the same day as coach Maurizio Sarri.
“Last year, fans were picking on me a lot because I’d arrived with another manager and, in my opinion, I ended up hearing some things that were honestly unfair,” Jorginho told FourFourTwo magazine.
“But I’ve never challenged the views of the fans and other people who criticised me. Quite the opposite, actually – it gave me strength because inside I knew they were wrong.
“Deep in my mind, it was like this: ‘I’m going to prove they’re wrong and work quietly like I’ve always done, because it’s never been easy for me.’
“I’ve gone through moments like this at every club I’ve played for – this low moment when doubt can come and make you wonder, ‘Should I just leave this place? Maybe there isn’t room for me here’.
“But I embrace this kind of challenge and I’ve never backed down. It gives me more strength to work even harder, to prove to everyone that I can make it.”
Jorginho has certainly won most of the supporters round and he credits current boss Frank Lampard with helping to smooth things over.
“Honestly, I thank him for the sincerity he showed towards me in public. He didn’t have to do that, and not every manager does it. He’s a legend inside the club, so people listen to what he says.
“From that day, I felt everyone began to look at me with different eyes and really pay attention to what I do; how much I’ve devoted myself to achieving the best I can.”