Frank Lampard explains why Jorginho took Chelsea penalty against Brighton
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has explained why Jorginho took Chelsea’s penalty in their 2-0 Premier League win over Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Blues’ first-choice penalty taker has been the topic of conversation over the past two weeks after Ross Barkley missed from the spot in Chelsea’s Champions League defeat to Valencia.
Why did Jorginho take the penalty? Five things to know…
- Ross Barkley missed a penalty in Chelsea’s 1-0 Champions League defeat to Valencia.
- It came after the Englishman appeared to take control of the situation, shrugging off discussions with Jorginho, Tammy Abraham and Willian.
- After the game, Chelsea manager Frank Lampard insisted Barkley was his first-choice penalty taker when on the pitch.
- But Jorginho took and scored Chelsea’s penalty against Brighton on Saturday, despite Barkley playing.
- And Lampard has revealed that Jorginho is the club’s first-choice penalty taker.
Barkley appeared to shrug off discussion with the likes of Jorginho, Tammy Abraham and Willian before missing the penalty, causing fans to question his decision.
Speaking after the defeat Lampard defended his midfielder, insisting when Barkley is on the pitch, he is Chelsea’s first-choice penalty taker.
But in each of Chelsea’s past two games they have been awarded penalties while Barkley has been on the pitch, and on both occasions he was not the one to take them.
Pedro scored from the spot against Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup, while Jorginho dispatched his penalty against Brighton.
And when asked whether Jorginho was Chelsea’s first-choice penalty taker, Lampard said: “Yes he is, end of story. He is one of the leaders.”
Lampard then went on to praise Jorginho for his performance, hitting back at some of the Italian’s critics of last season.
He added: “For whatever reasons, people made judgements about him last season but I can only judge what I see in front of me and from pre-season he’s been one of the leaders in the dressing room and on the pitch.
“He wants to win and to show that in everything you do is so important. He does that so I’m pleased with him. The young players need to look up to that kind of attitude that he has daily.”
