Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel blamed the Stamford Bridge floodlights for Jorginho’s error which led to Jadon Sancho’s opener for Manchester United.
The Blues were held to a 1-1 draw in west London as Jorginho netted a penalty to make amends for his loss of concentration shortly after half-time.
The Italian midfielder found himself as the last line of defence when dealing with a high ball that’d been booted clear by Bruno Fernandes.
With Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho closing him down on the half-way line, Jorginho failed to control the ball and the former Borussia Dortmund winger punished him as he raced clear to slot past Edouard Mendy.
But Tuchel reckons the 29-year-old was blinded by the lights as the ball came down.
‘It’s very unusual a mistake like this and to concede a goal like this for us in general, especially with Jorgi,’ he said.
‘He misjudged the situation and he was heavily disturbed from the lights so did not see the ball in the end. It happens.
‘It takes a lot of courage and personality to not be affected during the match and have the courage to take the penalty for the equaliser in the crucial moment.’
However, former Blues striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink didn’t quite see it the same way, suggesting Jorginho showed ‘arrogance’ in trying to bring down the ball in a dangerous position.
‘He should head it, he should head it back. You can’t take that chance and if you do it has to come off,’ Hasselbaink said on Sky Sports.
‘I agree with Roy [Keane] it’s not a bit of arrogance… it is arrogance.
‘Thinking “oh I will take it down out of the sky and play,” no. Two men are coming at you, just head the ball back and get people behind the ball.
‘Sancho takes the goal really well but this, you don’t do it.
‘Also, you know yourself… yes technically he is a very good player but he is not somebody who is blessed with pace so he’s never going to be able to get behind Sancho so you don’t take the risk.
‘Just head it back, have people behind you and don’t get a goal against [you] and you still have to score one goal to win the match. It’s silly.’
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