Chelsea were not reassured on Saturday, three days before their return match in the round of 16 against PSG. Opposed to Newcastle, the Blues actually bit the dust at Stamford Brige, losing 1-0 after a very disappointing performance.
However, the Londoners hope to create the feat on Tuesday. “The team believes in it, the coach believes in it, and the fans must believe in it too,” Joao Pedro said at a press conference, adding: “We know our strengths and we always believe in ourselves, because we proved it in the Club World Cup by beating PSG 3-0 in the final. »
The task will no less be difficult against the title holder. But Chelsea intends to put all its chances on its side, even if it means abandoning one of its rituals. According to the Daily Mailthe London players will thus abandon their gathering in the center of the field which they had become accustomed to doing several weeks just before the kick-off of a match. Consequence of the strange scene which played out on Saturday before the clash against Newcastle.
A ritual “become a source of excessive distraction”
The referee of the match Paul Tierner having refused to leave the central circle point, he found himself surrounded by all the Chelsea players, who did not want to move away to carry out their rally, and was even entitled to a little hug from Cole Palmer. Enough to make some leaders tick.
The Blues staff came to consider that this ritual was “become a source of excessive distraction” and therefore urged the players to put an end to it, at least in the central circle of the field. They could indeed continue to gather but in their own half.
“Honestly, we made a big deal out of it, reacted the coach, Liam Rosenior. It’s one detail among many other important things that we have to resolve, like this important match against PSG. The guys always wanted to show unity and solidarity. I think they will continue like this. What we don’t want is to provoke them or get ourselves into trouble, and we will decide tomorrow on the ground where we will act. »
