Azpilicueta reveals Jorginho encouraged Barkley to take penalty in UCL opener

  /  autty

Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta has revealed Jorginho encouraged Ross Barkley to take the penalty that cost them dearly in their defeat to Valencia in the Champions League.

The England international came off the bench late on and took responsibility for the spot-kick when Valencia defender Daniel Wass was adjudged to have handled in the area.

Azpilicueta revealed Barkley - not Jorginho - was Chelsea's designated penalty taker and backed the midfielder to make amends next time.

"Ross is one of the best penalty takers in the team," Azpilicueta told BT Sport.

"He is one of the first to take one and he had the confidence to shoot. I think he was unlucky hitting the bar and of course he will be disappointed because we could have got a point at the end.

"They [Jorginho and Tammy Abraham] were encouraging him to have the confidence to score. There was high expectation so everyone was trying to take him into the best condition.

"At the end of the game, a penalty can be decisive and unfortunately this time it went wrong for us. Hopefully next time he scores."

Related: Chelsea Ignacio Azpilicueta Barkley Jorginho
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