Getting this selection right could determine Chelsea’s European fate – opinion
Chelsea's Italian midfielder Jorginho (L) celebrates scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot with Chelsea's English midfielder Mason Mount (R) during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Brighton and Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge in London on September 28, 2019. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
As Chelsea prepare for their Champions League tie against Lille tonight manager Frank Lampard has a decision to make about how to approach the fixture, with the knowledge that victory will ensure progression to the last 16.
His engine room has been the beating heart of the side this season and it may be a surprise to some that Chelsea find themselves in the Champions League places in the Premier League, and on the cusp of progression in Europe, after having no summer arrivals who weren’t already registered with the club. When fit, N’Golo Kante and Matteo Kovacic appear to be his first-choice central midfielders, and then the ex-player has alternated between Jorginho and Mason Mount.
Knowing the fixture with the bottom side in Group H is one they should head into on the front foot, Lampard is faced with a decision, to either select Jorginho who operates as a playmaker from deep, or Mount who occupies a more traditional creative role.
The Italian’s influence is more difficult to measure directly through metrics as he is disengaged from the forward line due to his positioning. Nevertheless, Jorginho has accumulated more assists than Mount in the Premier League this term. Meanwhile, the Englishman has found the back of the net with a greater frequency in all competitions, scoring five, though that is only two more than his deeper-lying counterpart.
In total, Mount has been directly involved in a single goal more than Jorginho, though he has made two more appearances across the Champions League and England’s top flight. The England international has also recorded a higher number of key passes, averaging 1.6 per game in the Premier League, while Jorginho has registered 0.9. Though there is a significant disparity in the number of passes each midfielder has made, especially in Europe as Jorginho averages 71.6 per game in the Champions League, while Mount has made 18.4 ever 90 minutes in the same competition.
Considering Lampard needs his side to dominate proceedings this evening and not allow the visitors to take a surprise lead, he might be best to choose Jorginho instead of his English counterpart. The Italian can dictate the game from a position where he will likely be given space, and he will be fresh having not featured in the loss to Everton at the weekend.