Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has confirmed that Jorginho has replaced Ross Barkley as the main penalty taker at the West London club.
The Italian midfielder scored from the spot as he helped Chelsea to a 2-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge on Saturday after Mason Mount was fouled by Adam Webster inside the penalty box.
The 27-year-old Jorginho was back on penalty duties about a week and a half on after Barkley’s crucial penalty miss in the 1-0 defeat to Valencia in the Champions League opener.
Lampard stood by Barkley following that miss but the English midfielder was also overlooked on Wednesday as Pedro stepped up from 12 yards to tuck his penalty in the 7-1 win against Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup.
But the 41-year-old Lampard has now confirmed that Jorginho is Chelsea’s first-choice penalty taker after his impressive leadership displays as well as his ability to adapt to Chelsea’s current style of play. Jorginho was looked down upon by Chelsea fans after his poor first season with the club under Maurizio Sarri but slowly seems to be winning over the London faithful.
While speaking to reporters, Lampard was asked whether Jorginho was in front of everyone else in the pecking order and he replied by saying, “Yes he is, end of the story. I’m surprised about the obsession with penalty takers. Jorginho took it and he scored. He’s a penalty taker. He is a leader in his personality and whatever happened last year I wasn’t here and for whatever reason people will make judgments, Lampard said at his post-match news conference. All I can judge is what I see in front of me and from pre-season, he has been one of the leaders clearly in the dressing room and on the pitch and he wants to win.
