David Luiz concedes Paris Saint-Germain could have secured a better result in their Champions League last-16 first-leg against Chelsea, but says they can still be thankful for their 2-1 win.
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It looked like Chelsea would head back across the Channel the happier after Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s free-kick opener was cancelled out by the rarest of goals – a poacher’s finish by John Obi Mikel right on the stroke of half-time. Mikel is hoping that Chelsea can build up on the away goal advantage, and ultimately go through the next round of the Champions League.
“He [Mikel] has had a bit of a revival but the team as a whole worked very hard and were disciplined”. Read through our blog below to see how PSG overcame Chelsea 2-1 in Paris. “I repeat we could have been more lethal on the counter”, he said. “We have three weeks to prepare for the return leg, we’ll get john Terry back and Eden Hazard will get stronger, so we have every chance in the second leg. It’s 50-50”.
Ibrahimovic’s intense joy at scoring was understandable, too, given that he was harshly sent off during the first half in the second leg last season. “At the end, if we can do it at Stamford Bridge then the defeat doesn’t count so much”.
The second leg takes place at Stamford Bridge on March 9.
“Our aim was to come out here and get a goal and we’ve done that”, he said.
Away goals have separated these sides in the Champions League in each of the last two seasons.
“The big regret for me is that we lost the goal just before half-time”, said Blanc.
The 69-year-old is quoted by the official club website as saying: “I think it’s still 50-50”.
“The players did well, not just the four defenders”, Hiddink said. We know what we have to do now and we’re more confident at home. “We also had midfielders who did good defensive work”. They’re a fantastic team and that was very, very tough.
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Hopefully we will keep our spirits elevated, and move forth to perhaps have a good shot at getting two very unlikely accolades given how poorly this season has played out for us.
