The Chelsea boss has continued to dismiss criticism of the policy regarding the France World Cup winner
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has no plans to return N'Golo Kante to his former holding midfield role.
The France World Cup winner helped Leicester City and the Blues to the Premier League title in successive seasons playing at the base of the midfield.
But Sarri has installed his trusted lieutenant Jorginho, who arrived at Stanford Bridge alongside the manager from Napoli, as a deep-lying playmaker this season - with Kante pushed further forward.
And though Jorginho was badly exposed in the 3-1 defeat to Tottenham last month, Sarri is yet to be convinced to re-install Kante to his regular position.
"We have a squad for this kind of football," said Sarri ahead of the trip to Brighton on Sunday.
"If you buy Jorginho and have [Cesc] Fabregas, then I think you have to play 4-3-3.
"If you play 4-3-3 in my style of football, then the central midfielder is a very technical player. Jorginho is very fast in the mind.
"He is able to play one touch or two touch. Fabregas also is technically really very good.
"I think that Kante in my style of football has to play [further forward].
"I can understand that somebody might think something different but if you think to my football, you have to say that I am right."
Last weekend's victory over Manchester City went some way to masking over that loss to Spurs, with goals from Kante and David Luiz ending the champions' unbeaten start to the campaign.
It provided evidence that while Chelsea might not challenge for the title this term, they have made progress since the departure of Antonio Conte; a point they can cement at the Amex.
"For us it is a very important match" the Chelsea boss added.
"We need to confirm our motivation and determination like we showed in the last match.
"We need these qualities with continuity because every match is three points.
"We need to improve, improve a lot. I agree this match for us is really very important.
"Maybe it is the most important in this season at this moment."
mltfabian
63
sarri is right, when we talk about positional play. (a rondo game) then passingnis priority, players have to pass the ball and move it persuasively untill in the opposition box. the position for Jorge Luis (jorginho), is called deep lying playmaker, which requires someone who is immaculate with their passing, quick at decision making and be very good at winning tackles and defend well. and when you compare kante and jorginho on this aspect jorginho is better in both passing, decision and quicknes. for that reason Pep one of the pioneers of positional foorball wanted to sign him for his man city just like busquets at barcelona
wucekmopu
48
With this analysis, what is the use of procession football when you are barely scoring goals? Kente has been very good in the holding role in our midfield pack and was highly successful. We won the premier league twice with him as building our back line. Why change him now??? While it is true the Jorginho is good at passing the ball but we are sure to suffer against top class opponents like what happened in the Spurs game. I rather Kante resume his defensive roles while Jorginho be deployed further up field to support the attack. With this combination we will score more goals and be deadly in any match.