He was the poster boy for Sarri-ball, the man of a thousand passes, most of them sideways, the player who regularly drove Stamford Bridge to distraction.

A season on and with Maurizio Sarri back in Italy, the on-field embodiment of his opinion-splitting footballing philosophy is thriving under new manager Frank Lampard, as he showed again in the 2-0 victory over Brighton on Saturday.

Chelsea supporters would last season jeer when they heard Jorginho’s name announced pre-match, despairing at the prospect of another sterile display. Now they are savouring a full-scale love-in with their Brazilian-born Italian international midfielder.

“Yes, it made me a little bit sad because I knew it was not like that but in my mind I just have to work hard and change their minds, and they have to notice they made a mistake about myself,” said Jorginho, who followed Sarri to London from Napoli for £52 million two summers ago.

What a turnaround for Jorginho, 27, who could soak up the applause on Saturday, especially after converting the penalty that set Chelsea on the way to victory.