JORGINHO has taken on extra work as Thiago Silva’s English teacher to help the Brazilian superstar settle in at Chelsea.
Brazil-born Italian Jorginho also acts as unofficial translator in the dressing room — and it is helping the team iron out defensive woes.
Jorginho is acting as the unofficial translator in a multi-cultural Chelsea dressing room Credit: EPA
Thiago, 36, was signed on a free in the summer from Paris Saint-Germain and is seen as a key figure in the back line even though his knowledge of English is minimal.
Midfielder Jorginho, 28, said: “When he has some questions or some doubts he asks me and I try to help him if I can, because my English is not that great.
“I have taught him ‘man on’, ‘turn’ or if he is on the other side ‘switch play’. Things that you need on the pitch. ‘Man on’, ‘drop’ or ‘up’.
“We try to help each other. That’s what you do on and off the pitch.
“He is happy here. He is a big personality, a big player with lots of experience.
“He is helping all of us as a group, the younger players, everyone.
“He finds a way to communicate, whether it is with his hands or he speaks to me and I give the information to the other guys. We find a way.”
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard revealed this week he communicates with Portuguese-speaker Thiago via an interpreter but that the pair already have a solid working relationship.
Thiago Silva was brought in to help patch up Chelsea’s awkward defenceCredit: Getty Images – Getty
He will have to be managed carefully due to his age but he played a huge role in Tuesday’s stalemate in the Champions League against Sevilla. It was the first goalless draw of Lampard’s 64-game reign.
Chelsea go to Manchester United on Saturday to avenge a 4-0 pummeling in Lamps’ first Premier League match as manager.
Jorginho said: “We are trying to be a solid team, not conceding so many goals. We need to work on that but it is difficult.
“Goals and small details can make the difference at the end.
“We have to work on other things to get better but we are on the right way I think.
“We must focus on defending inside the box, how to press and don’t switch off on set-plays.
“These details make a big difference. We need to be aware all the time. We are trying to do that.
“Thiago helped a lot, talking a lot. Defensively he has massive experience and he knows about football tactically so he is helping all of us so much.
“He has played at a high level for a long time. I think it is easy to see he is a great player on the pitch.”
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard says that Thiago Silva will be a great player after West Brom horror show
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
