Jorginho has explained why it was so hard to create chances against Brighton and where we need to improve to have more scoring opportunities in the future.
We found it difficult to breakdown a high-energy, high-pressing Brighton side at Stamford Bridge in last night’s 0-0 draw in the Premier League, with little in the way of clear chances for either side during the match.
The Italian international, who wore the captain’s armband with Cesar Azpilicueta on the bench, was quick to praise our opponents’ performance, but also insisted we should have done more to create opportunities to win the game.
‘It was hard because Brighton did very well, defended very well, pressed very well,’ said Jorginho. ‘So we didn’t create many of the chances that we usually do and then we suffered.
‘When you can’t create many chances, in the few situations you can make a big chance you need to go into it hungry and create a big opportunity to score. To be fair, we didn’t, we were missing that, and when you don’t do it you can’t score and you can’t win.’
The 29-year-old also felt we could have been smarter in our use of the ball to escape the relentless high press Brighton imposed on us, as well as admitting we were fortunate to get away with a couple of errors in possession during the second half.
‘They pressed very well, coming from behind, pushing forward and pressing forward, moving the whole team as a block. Maybe we could have played one-touch more, more triangles. We needed to play more as a team with one-twos. Go forward, go back, and then find the third man, or play behind the line attacking with pace. We didn’t do that and that’s why we struggled.
‘We tried to get goals but then we lost dangerous balls. In the end we could have lost the game because we made some mistakes in the build-up, so the draw maybe is fair. We didn’t create much and maybe we didn’t deserve to win. We need to keep working, keep pushing, work harder to improve and I’m sure we are going to do that.’
However, it was another clean sheet to our name, and the second of the week for goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who kept his place between the posts following our 1-0 win over Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals.
‘I’m happy for him. He works hard, the same as the whole team. We all work hard on the pitch and defend well. We need to keep working like that and try to do better on the ball.’
The point was enough to take us back into the Premier League’s top four, though, putting us in front of our next opponents West Ham United on goal difference, ahead of our meeting at the London Stadium on Saturday.
‘It will be a big game,’ added Jorginho. ‘We need to prepare very well because they are doing very well in the league. We need to be careful and play better than yesterday.’