Jorginho showed his true worth to keep Chelsea’s Europa League dream alive in Frankfurt, according to team-mate Cesar Azpilicueta.

The Italy midfielder is the fulcrum of Maurizio Sarri’s tactical blueprint and often the focal point of supporter frustration amid the taskmaster manager’s mixed first season at the Chelsea helm.

But at the Commerzbank Arena on Thursday Jorginho had the Blues’ midfield all wrapped up, even when patched up himself due to a bandaged head wound.

And that left Chelsea skipper Azpilicueta purring over Jorginho’s influence, as Pedro’s strike secured a 1-1 semi-final first leg draw with Eintracht and a potentially crucial away goal.

“Jorginho is a very important player for us,” said Azpilicueta.

“Sometimes all of us have struggled because when the results are not there it means we’re not doing the perfect job.

“But this is his first season in England, first time at a new club.

“This was an important game for him. He grew into the game by getting more control, creating more space for the two attacking midfielders where he could find them in very dangerous positions.

“We can see that every time we find him and give him more space he can create that pass and move forward. It also meant we (defenders) could enjoy more space in front of us.”

Luka Jovic headed Eintracht into an early lead in front of a fervent crowd, but Chelsea rallied from a poor start to end the night frustrated only to have drawn.

Jorginho’s measured performance laid the platform for Ruben Loftus-Cheek to run riot, and the 23-year-old duly teed up Pedro for a crisp finish.