Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has defended goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen following his costly mistake in the Blues’ 5-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie on Wednesday, March 11.
Jorgensen started ahead of Robert Sanchez but was responsible for PSG’s third goal after his pass was intercepted before Vitinha lobbed the ball into the net to extend the home side’s lead.
The defeat leaves Chelsea with a difficult task ahead of the return leg at Stamford Bridge next week.
Speaking after the match, Rosenior insisted mistakes are part of the game. “Players sometimes make mistakes,” he said.
“Filip is not the first one to make a mistake that is part of football.”
The Chelsea manager also admitted the final goal conceded by his side was particularly painful.
“We are very close to being an outstanding team,” he said.
“Even at 4-2, we were still right in it. The fifth goal, that’s the painful one. It’s something I have to really solve.”
Chelsea will now turn their attention to the Premier League clash with Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday before the return fixture against PSG.
Meanwhile, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola equalled an unwanted record following his side’s 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid in their Champions League Round of 16 first leg.
Midfielder Federico Valverde scored all three goals at the Santiago Bernabeu to give the Spanish side a strong advantage ahead of the second leg next week.
According to OptaJoe, the result means Guardiola has now suffered his joint-heaviest defeat in the first leg of a Champions League knockout tie. The Spaniard previously lost 3-0 to Barcelona in the 2014-2015 semi-finals and Liverpool in the 2017-2018 quarter-finals.
Manchester City will now switch focus to the Premier League, where they face West Ham United this weekend.
