Chelsea will look to persue their European campaign when they travel to France for their Champions League quarter-final first leg against PSG.
Venue: Parc des Princes Date: Wednesday, 2nd April Kick-off: 19:45 GMT On TV: Sky Sports 1/HD
The Blues have enjoyed continental success the last two seasons, famously winning the Champions League before going on to win the Europa under Rafa Benitez last term.
Mourinho’s men will aim to bounce back from recent away day disappointments to gain an away advantage against PSG to bring back to Stamford Bridge next Tuesday.
His side will almost definitely find a larger threat in their way than they did in the last round where Chelsea brushed aside Galatasaray in the second leg.
However, Chelsea, once again, have the second leg at home which means any goal will be a bonus for the Blues as they can then build on their handy work on the return leg in London.
Paris Saint-Germain, managed by Laurent Blanc, like Chelsea are not considered one of the heavyweights of the competition, but there were certainly more favourable ties for Mourinho’s side.
Chelsea’s shaky away form in the league of late looks to have cost them the title, which means the Champions League would remain the only available bit f silverware for them this season. Chelsea fans have a great love affair with the competition which was only heightened by the triumph two years ago.
Chelsea’s latest league game saw them fall to relegation strugglers Crystal Palace whist PSG, who top the Ligue 1 table by 13 points, won 0-1 away to Nice.
The clear dangerman for the French giants will be Zlatan Ibrahimovic who, with 35 goals this season, will pose a real threat to the Premier League’s sternest back line.
Chelsea’s right-come-left back Cesar Azilicueta recognised the danger of the Swede in Tuesday’s press conference:
“Zlatan is one of the best strikers in the world and his numbers are a reference for the team.”
The boss also admired the striker, claiming that “It is a pity for Ibrahimovic if he finishes his career and hasn’t played in the best league the world”.
Chelsea have no such threat up-front but will be hopeful that their highest scoring striker Samuel Eto’o will return from injury in time to play, having missed the defeat at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
Chelsea’s main threat is, as usual, likely to come from the midfield and that trio behind the frontman, with reported PSG targets Eden Hazard and Oscar looking set to provide Chelsea’s biggest hope of an away goal.
Like many away games, it may come down to just one goal which may even come from the defence, with Chelsea possessing very capable goalscoring centre halves in Gary Cahill and John Terry, (hopefully in the right net, though!)
The hosts come into this game in better form, with a perfect record in the last five games while Chelsea’s form guide is scarred by those two away losses in the league.
When the teams last met, it was all square at 1-1 during a pre-season meeting at the beginning of last season. Lucas Piazon got Chelsea’s goal that day.
Chelsea will face former centre back and fan favourite Alex, famed for his thunderous freekicks, in this tie. The Brazilian has recently insisted he left the club on no bad terms, and only had ‘the hump’ with Andre Villas Boas.
As normal on Champions League nights, Nemanja Matic and Mohamad Salash find themselves ineligible for the game having already played for their previous teams in the competition this season.
This leaves the likely option of Frank Lampard to take his place; the veteran has been rolling back the years with his displays in Europe’s elite competition this season.
The Blues are likely to return to a 4-2-3-1 formation following the changes against Crystal Palace and we may see the standard trio of Hazard, Oscar and Willian return to the side as an attacking force.
Who do you want to see lineup for the Blues?
One would imagine Mourinho would be satisfied with a draw in the Parc des Princes which means Chelsea will hold the advantage for the return leg, which could see the London side set up in a counter attacking shape and style. Jose admired the array of attacking class on display in the French side:
“PSG have fantastic attacking players and goalscorers and that really makes a difference at this level.”
PSG vs Chelsea: Pre-match facts
- Fernando Torres didn’t manage a single shot on target in his last three games for Chelsea in the PL
- Chelsea won 0-3 away to PSG in the 2004/05 Champions League season, with John Terry scoring that day
- Before this season, Zlatan Ibrahimovic had just 5 goals in 30 CL knockout games, in a period spanning 12 years
- Chelsea will reach the CL semi-finals for the 7th time in 12 years if they progress vs PSG
- Jose Mourinho has never lost as manager of a last eight side in Europe
PSG vs Chelsea: Predicted lineups:
Paris Saint-Germain: Sirigu, Jallet, Digne, Thigo Silva, Marqinos; Motta, Pastore, Cabaye; Lavezzi, Ibrahimovic, Cavani
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta; Luiz, Lampard; Hazard, Oscar, Willian; Torres
Prediction: PSG 1-1 Chelsea
