Curtis Jones on learning from FA Cup disappointment
Curtis Jones resolved to learn from the disappointment of Liverpool's FA Cup campaign coming to an end against Chelsea on Tuesday night.
The Reds were beaten 2-0 by the Blues in their fifth-round clash at Stamford Bridge as goals from Willian and Ross Barkley decided an action-packed tie.
Having played every minute of the FA Cup run before the trip to the capital, Jones and fellow Academy graduate Neco Williams were once again entrusted a place in the starting XI by Jürgen Klopp.
And though Jones sharply felt the sting of his side’s elimination, he pledged to use the experience – and the way the defeat occurred – as an important lesson.
“It was a great experience for the likes of me and Neco,” he told Liverpoolfc.com post-match. “It was against a great Chelsea side and I thought we battled right until the end.
“I thought we started well but it wasn’t the result that we wanted, and on a personal note I’m devastated to not have had the best performance and not going through to the next round.
“In any big game it’s vital that every opportunity that you get you try to take it. We had a couple of chances in the first half where their ‘keeper made three or four great saves.
“The best teams punish you and I think that’s what happened today.”
Jones had scored in each of the previous FA Cup rounds, with his memorable Merseyside derby winner at Anfield followed by a strike in the first meeting with Shrewsbury Town.
The Scouser was then part of the youthful side that overcame Shrewsbury in the replay on home soil and his appearance against Chelsea represented an eighth of the season.
He reiterated both his gratitude to the manager for that run of first-team opportunities and his desire to repay the faith shown in him whenever possible.
“I just want to say a massive thank you and I’m honoured really,” added Jones.
“I think for a young lad at such a big club it’s not always easy getting game time as much as you’d like or in the games that you would like, but the gaffer has shown great belief in myself and the rest of the young lads and hopefully I’ve paid him back in a great way and look forward to a few more along the way.”