UCL – What We Learned – Chelsea 1 Paris Saint-Germain 2

UCL – What We Learned – Chelsea 1 Paris Saint-Germain 2

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Paris Saint-Germain sent Chelsea out of the UEFA Champions League for the second consecutive season with a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge early this morning.

The stakes could not have been higher for Guus Hiddink and his players, starting the second-leg of this round of 16 tie at a fast face which saw Diego Costa force a diving save from Kevin Trapp in the opening two minutes. PSG’s attacking might would soon come to the forefront as well, however, clearly testing the home backline from the beginning and finding a breakthrough in the 16th minute when Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s pass across the face of goal was tapped-in by Adrien Rabiot at the back post.

With the task ahead now even more monumental, the Blues showed some much-needed grit to generate their own momentum and equalise 10 minutes later as Costa received the ball at the top of the box and turned before striking into the bottom-corner.

Hope still remained for the Londoners as the second-half started deadlocked and the momentum of the game swinging toward their favour. A good period of pressure saw Willian and Eden Hazard create opportunities against Trapp, although spirits dampened around the ground immediately when Costa had to be substituted on the 60th minute with a suspected hamstring injury.

The Parisians soon gained their foothold and broke the hearts of Stamford Bridge onlookers after the hour-mark, through an Angel Di Maria-led counter-attack that saw a pinpoint ball meet the foot of Ibrahimovic to beat Thibaut Courtois.


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Blues not good enough at the back

While there was plenty of sting evident behind Chelsea’s forward movement, the hosts suffered from the same issues that initially derailed their season.

Today’s back four included three of the regular starters which made up the defensive wall that conceded just 32 domestic goals in 2014-15, yet when PSG were on attack the likes of Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic could hardly keep up. Kenedy and Cesar Azpilicueta were drawn too far to the width which allowed easily exploitable gaps en route to the 18-yard area, illustrated as both of Paris’ goals were setup through either side of the box.

Before the match the idea of Chelsea keeping a clean sheet to progress through was seen as farcical, something that should not be acceptable to the fans or players. If there is one area of the team that needs a clear out and rebuild come the offseason, it truly is the complacent, at times lazy defence.

Too much class from PSG

The Parisian’s came to London with a chokehold over Ligue 1 and a team which believes they can go all the way against the best in the world. Turning the cogs from midfield, the Angel Di Maria that travelled to Stamford Bridge as a part of PSG is unrecognisable from the version that played there in the red of Manchester United. After what may have been his lowest point as an individual player, the Argentine is brimming with confidence and creativity once more. Di Maria was integral in the opening goal build up, while also assisting Ibrahimovic for the winner.

Mention always has to be given to ‘Ibra’, once again a heroic figure of big game settings. Paris’ near-superhuman Swedish striker recorded his fourth goal and third assist of the tournament, bullying the opposition centre-backs for dangerous space and taking his chances with expertise.

A side which towers above all other domestic opposition, is the time finally coming for Ibrahimovic and his star teammates to prove the Parisians are also the best throughout the continent?

Who was PSG’s man of the match against Chelsea?

2015-16 holding by a thread

Hiddink’s undefeated run, which stretched back to the first leg meeting with the Parisians, had inspired many downtrodden fans that something special could still be done this season. However, a harsh reality may sink in after this defeat – now out of the Champions League and with next to no chance of qualifying for the 2016-17 installment, sitting tenth on the Premier League table and still seven points away from a Europa berth.

With an FA Cup quarter-final meeting with Everton on the weekend, the Blues now face the possibility of being knocked out of two competitions in a matter of days and their campaign falling into irreparable tatters.

Can Chelsea continue to display the fortitude that made a miracle look possible at times this morning? Or will they finally collapse under the pressure of their forgettable, to say the least, 2015-16.

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