Jorginho ´really deserves´ to win Ballon d´Or, says Tuchel

Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel believes Jorginho is the player most deserving of this year’s Ballon d’Or, but does not believe the award should be seen as hugely important.

The 29-year-old won the Champions League with the Blues and Euro 2020 with Italy last season and was handed the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year prize as a result.

Midfielder Jorginho is now in contention for another individual gong after being named on the Ballon d’Or’s 30-man shortlist alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski.

“Jorginho really deserves to win the Ballon d’Or,” Tuchel said while attending the Gazzetta festival. 

“These individual prizes, however, are not of great value on the football field, it is impossible to make a real comparison.

“Obviously, I would like it if my player wins it, because it would greatly increase the confidence he has in his own means, but for me, it is not an essential thing.”

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— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 9, 2021

N’Golo Kante, Cesar Azpilicueta, Mason Mount and Romelu Lukaku also represent Chelsea on the shortlist for the prestigious prize, and Tuchel had plenty to say about Lukaku, who returned to Stamford Bridge from Inter in August.

“I’m sorry for the Inter fans, but we have identified in him a player of personality who could also lift the pressure from the shoulders of the youngest and who would give us the opportunity to play football faster,” Tuchel added. 

“He had always said he was fine with Inter and with [Antonio] Conte because he had achieved excellent results, but for him, it was important to go back to where he had played as a [young man].” 

Lukaku has made a solid start to life back in London, scoring four goals in nine appearances across all competitions in his second stint as a Chelsea player.