It was a chaotic night under the lights in SW6 as goals flew in down both ends, the group game swung in favour of the visitors and then the hosts, Ajax lost two players and a penalty in one controversial incident and then VAR helped rule out a ninth goal as the Blues thought they had completed the most unlikeliest of comebacks.

After such a rollercoaster of emotions, those involved could be forgiven for not quite knowing how to feel and Jorginho summed up the confused mood in the camp – both happy and disappointed.

‘It was an unbelievable game and I think everyone who watched enjoyed it,’ said the Italian afterwards. ‘4-1, two red cards, then 4-4, 5-4 and then VAR says no goal! It was so crazy but this is football and it was amazing for that.

‘It was a good result for us in the end but we are a bit disappointed we didn’t win because we could have done, especially with two players more.’

Read our take on a Champions League classic at the Bridge

Our midfield metronome played a starring role in the contest, drawing us level after just five minutes with a penalty converted in his inimitable style before keeping a cool head again from 12 yards amid bedlam at the Bridge.

Both Ajax centre-backs were shown red cards within seconds of each other as the referee awarded another spot-kick to the hosts, though Jorginho remained the most composed man in the stadium as he sent the goalkeeper the wrong way again to make it 4-3.

He would not be drawn on the subtleties of his unique penalty-taking technique – he has missed just once in his last 16 efforts from the spot – and instead focused on learning from the final stages of the game.

‘We should be more calm when we were at 4-4 with two men more because we could find some more spaces if we were calmer and more comfortable on the ball, not trying to score again straight away,’ he claimed.

‘We can keep improving from this game, we will try different things in the next game and we can still go through. Our mentality is to win every single game. I don’t think we can play to draw so we have to believe in every game.’

Frank Lampard praised the spirit in adversity of his young side and his vice-captain embodied that on the pitch, rallying both team-mates and supporters in moments of consolation and celebration. The 27-year-old has developed that side of his game this season and he insisted that there was always a feeling among the group that they could rescue something from the game, even at 4-1 down.

‘We always felt there was a way back and the manager told us never to give up because we have a great spirit and we showed that, which is so important for us as a group,’ Jorginho added.

‘That was the most important thing, that we didn’t give up, because when we were 4-1 down it was hard to believe. Everyone should be a leader because we can help each other and it’s so important for us to do that.’