Pat Nevin purred in his latest Chelsea column over the partnership that Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho have begun to forge in midfield.
Thomas Tuchel’s short reign in South West London has been illuminated by the resurgence of this delightful duo.
Jorginho and Kovacic have started all four league games together and have rarely put a foot wrong between them.
It is one of many developments to have flourished from Tuchel’s early teachings but none have pleased Nevin quite like this pairing.
“One partnership that is not new but could be argued to be as important as any other at the club is that between Kovacic and Jorginho,” admitted the former Chelsea winger.
“In the league games since the manager arrived, those two have been first choices in the engine room from the start.”
Nevin alluded to the fact this arrangement has been trialled before at Chelsea without glowing success.
Maurizio Sarri often united Kovacic and Jorginho, with the same emphasis on possession but not the same output.
Frank Lampard also attempted to combine them but quite couldn’t quite strike the right balance.
Sarri and Lampard tried to use them in a midfield three, whereas Tuchel has gone for a flat two that’s seemingly got the best out of them both.
Nevin also highlighted how authoritative their performances have been of late.
“Not to put too fine a point on it, but they often make it look like they are ‘grown-up’ footballers playing against keen youngsters trying to learn the game.
“That midfield maturity is something I have always been a fan of with these two since they first came to the club.
“Even with the teething problems at the start, I have always felt they perfectly complimented each other in there. Tuchel would appear to agree, at the moment.”
Perhaps the biggest compliment to be paid to Kovacic and Jorginho is that N’Golo Kante has rarely been given a sniff since Tuchel arrived.
The Chelsea boss made no secret in saying he adored the Frenchman, so it can’t be easy to continuously leave him out.
But who’s to argue if Jovacic can continue their rich vein of form?
The Chelsea Chronicle View
I think I and many Chelsea fans winced when I first saw their names next to one another on the team sheet against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Now, they are the first two names I look for.
Their bond is blossoming like nobody else in the squad and it’s brilliant to see.
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