This morning, we had to dig through numerous media outlets to find any traces of articles discussing the clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea in the Champions League. It must be said that the British press was especially interested in the misfortunes of Igor Tudor’s Tottenham. Despite everything, the meeting between the reigning European champions and the Blues was covered by certain publications. Almost all of them are unable to give a prediction since both teams are experiencing ups and downs this season. But the Mirror believes that Luis Enrique’s gang still has the resources to win this evening in a Parc des Princes won over to his cause. “PSG was not as brilliant as last season, but it has the means to overcome Chelsea”assures the tabloid.
Other publications are less confident, like the Sun. “Reigning champions PSG face world champions Chelsea in what promises to be an explosive round of 16 match-up. That said, neither team has been very convincing of late. The French team will be keen to take revenge after this Club World Cup final last summer, after a remarkable run throughout the competition and great confidence in their opponents (…) PSG has only 3 victories to its credit in its last 7 home matches. Which should give Chelsea some hope. But the problem for the Blues is that they haven’t been convincing enough themselves in many of their last matches.
A less impressive PSG
The Sun continues: “They have scored a lot of goals in their last 5 away games – 16 to be exact – but they are also conceding goals, and those results have come against teams they should have beaten.” For his part, the Guardianwhich evokes “a Parisian revenge”judges PSG less frightening. “PSG has disappointed this season: leading Ligue 1 with a 1-point lead after its 3-1 defeat against Monaco last Friday, the team had to play in the play-offs following its 11th place in the general standings of the Champions League and seems tired since the Club World Cup. Injuries took their toll and new recruits were not up to the task. Internal tensions have arisen and the choice to sell Donnarumma to Manchester City and replace him with Lucas Chevalier remains subject to debate.
But we will have to take the Ile-de-France residents seriously. “PSG nevertheless remains a formidable opponent. Fabián Ruiz is out with a knee injury, but Vitinha is exceptional in midfield and we hope for the return of Neves, recovered from his ankle injury. In attack, Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bradley Barcola and Désiré Doué will be keen to rectify the situation against a Chelsea defense which has not yet managed to keep clean sheets away from home in Europe this season. Chelsea, for their part, proved they could punish PSG. The game plan was superbly executed in the Club World Cup final. The midfielder pressed high, Robert Sánchez distilled long diagonals over the Parisian left-back, Nuno Mendes, and this organization allowed Cole Palmer to have the space necessary to seal the victory thanks to a masterful performance. PSG will not underestimate the threat. »
A test for Rosenior’s Chelsea
Especially since Liam Rosenior, who manages Chelsea, knows PSG perfectly. Tonight, he will play big depending on Sky Sports. “If Liam Rosenior has learned lessons from his predecessor Enzo Maresca, he has undoubtedly seen the impact that a victory against PSG can have on a Chelsea manager. It may not be the Club World Cup final, but Rosenior still has the opportunity to turn this Champions League round of 16 into a landmark victory, to shed some of the somewhat nasty “Liam LinkedIn” label that some have attached to him and to prove that he has the seriousness necessary to succeed at Stamford Bridge (…) Rosenior’s public statements, his team choices and his tactical adjustments have not really helped to appease the doubts about his ability to manage supporters who have fond memories of Mourinho, Conte and Ancelotti, as well as some memorable European evenings in west London. »
Sky Sports concludes: “However, a victory against the same Champions League title holders, who knocked out English teams in every knockout round last season, would help boost his credibility in the eyes of Chelsea fans. Rosenior knows Luis Enrique’s PSG as well as any remaining manager, having managed the team in L1 for 18 months before joining Chelsea. His Strasbourg team remains one of only two to have remained undefeated at the Parc des Princes in the championship. The Blues coach showed encouraging signs (…) If there are no other surprises in the composition of the team, Rosenior has no reason not to leave Paris satisfied for the second time this season. In England, we believe that he has every chance of achieving this against a less successful PSG. Praised a few months ago for its game, its collective and its talents, Paris has lost its splendor in the eyes of the English press, which has changed its mind.
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