Wolves boss Bruno Lage says Jorginho is one of the world’s most influential midfielders but insists Ruben Neves shares some of the Italian’s qualities.
Jorginho helped Italy win the Euros this summer with a series of impressive displays after previously lifting the Champions League with Chelsea last term.
It left Wolves ’ Portuguese coach Lage full of admiration for the former Napoli ace, who cost Chelsea £57million in 2018 and turns 30 on Monday.
He believes Jorginho is key to Chelsea's 3-4-3 system under coach Thomas Tuchel which is similar to Wolves’ own formation.
But Lage reckons Wolves possess a special holding midfielder of their own in Neves.
Neves underlined his impressive vision with a superb assist in midweek as he picked out Romain Saiss to score the only goal at Brighton.
Lage assessed: “Midfielders are very important and Jorginho is one of the best in that position at the moment.
“If you look, every time they get pressed, they always look to find Jorginho and he will find spaces in front.
“He’s very clever in that way.
“When I’ve watched him play that position, you can learn, especially when he’s playing in their half of the pitch, in the way he puts his body and starts to look right to left to find the spaces before passing the ball.
“So that’s how he’s very clever, playing that way in that position when they’re playing in their half of the pitch and with a lot of pressure.
“But Ruben is a top player too.
“Our job is to take the best from the players and we’re very happy with him.
“He provided a big assist for Saiss against Brighton and only the top players can do that.
“He could see the defenders were moving, but could see where the space was and could hit the pass at the right speed and at the right angle for Saiss to score.
“These are the little things that make some players better than others.”
Neves’ assist on the South Coast was his first in the Premier League this term in 16 appearances.
But he has also caught the eye as Lage tries to make the midfielder better at pressing when out of possession.
Lage revealed he and his staff hold daily meetings with the team’s defenders to help them too.
It has seen Wolves concede just 14 times in 17 games in the top-flight this term.
Lage added: “The defenders work hard.
“Everyday we have meetings just with the defenders with one of my staff.
“It is the three centre-backs or sometimes the line of five.
“They discuss where you put your body , your feet to react and how you are going to play against players depending if they are right-footed or left-footed.
“These are little details we are working a lot with.”
