Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has confirmed that Ross Barkley is the team’s assigned penalty taker when he is on the pitch.
The 25-year-old blasted his side’s penalty over the bar in the closing stages against Valencia, with the Blues going on to lose their opening Champions League game. Lampard was asked about his choice after the match and he replied:
“Ross is the penalty taker. He’s scored a couple in pre-season and he’s been the taker whenever he’s started or come on in games. I don’t know what the conversation was but Willian and Jorginho were the penalty takers from the start and Ross was once he came on.”
Fans on Twitter are wondering why Barkley is ahead of the likes of Jorginho and Willian in the pecking order, with many calling for change in who takes the penalties:
Lampard is wrong, Jorginho is by far the best penalty taker at the club and of the best in the world
— Liam (@_CFCLiam) 17 September 2019
Jorginho has 13 successful penalties out of 14 penalties (not shootout penalties) in his career.
That's 93% success rate and amongst the best in the world.
— Dan Panda (@cozierpanda) 17 September 2019
Sorry but Barkley should NEVER be 1st choice penalty taker for Chelsea.
— Yousaf (@Yousaf_S_1987) 17 September 2019
This man or no one. pic.twitter.com/bYyR5DTVxt
— sʜᴀᴍʏ⚜ (@Kepalogist) 17 September 2019
Sorry Frank, but I'm not having that.
— Tom Andrews (@CarefreeTom_182) 17 September 2019
If Barkley is penalty taker then thats a bad reflection of Lampards judgement after the way Jorginho takes them
— Matt Spencer (@MattSpenc19) 17 September 2019
Ain't buying this Lampard. This is disrespect to Jorginho and Willian.
— Elorm (@CFCElorm) 17 September 2019
He's just trying to protect barkley
— Neill Heneghan (@HeneghanNeill) 17 September 2019
It is ridiculous that Barkley is the first choice penalty taker for Chelsea
— adeniran adegboyega (@gboyeniran) 18 September 2019
This is crazy.
— Miguel (@ftblmiguel) 17 September 2019
Purely nonsense!!!
— Melanin Guyman?????? (@Papa_Bawuah) 17 September 2019
Considering Jorginho is so accomplished from the penalty spot, favouring Barkley ahead of him does seem to be poor judgement on the part of the manager.
Of course, nobody would have questioned the decision if Barkley had slotted the ball away, but the fact is, he didn’t, and there will be pressure for him to be replaced next time with Jorginho.