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Jorginho has expressed his disbelief at the criticism directed towards his Arsenal teammate Kai Havertz following his move from Chelsea to the Emirates in the summer of 2023. Despite the initial struggles to find the right role for Havertz in Mikel Arteta's setup, Jorginho has always been a strong supporter of the German international, who was signed for £65million. Havertz’s form has improved significantly, and he has already scored 13 goals in the Premier League, with a total of nine goals in 19 appearances across all competitions this season.
However, the criticism Havertz faced in the early stages of his Arsenal career left Jorginho stunned. The veteran midfielder, who won Euro 2020 and the Champions League, found it hard to understand the negative reaction to Havertz’s performances. Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Jorginho admitted that he couldn't fathom why Havertz was being criticized. “It’s crazy because he’s just an unbelievable player,” Jorginho said. He was particularly surprised by the intensity of the backlash, saying, "At the beginning when people were hammering him, I was like, these people, what are they talking about?"
To support his teammate, Jorginho spoke to Havertz directly, offering reassurance. "I went to Kai a few times and I was like, Kai, don’t listen, forget about it. You know what you can do, this is crazy," he said. The midfielder also praised Havertz’s improvement in resilience since joining the Premier League. Jorginho noted that the 24-year-old has become more physically tough and that his confidence has grown immensely. "He’s getting tougher and tougher. And now he’s at this place that is unbelievable," Jorginho said, highlighting how Havertz’s growing confidence benefits not only him but also the team.
He further emphasized Havertz’s intelligence on the field, noting his ability to position himself effectively and find solutions in difficult situations. "He always gives a solution and finds solutions in situations that you don’t believe he’s going to come out of," Jorginho remarked. "He’s a baller. He’s like a big one."
Havertz will have another opportunity to showcase his abilities in Arsenal's upcoming match against Manchester United. As the Gunners aim to close the gap on Liverpool at the top of the table, United, under Ruben Amorim, will look to contain Havertz and secure a second consecutive clean sheet against one of their toughest opponents yet.
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