All of the players dream to play in the Champions League – we live for the competition and the games.
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Former Manchester United playmaker Angel Di Maria came close as he burst clear on the right-hand side of the box, sliding a shot past Thibaut Courtois and Branislav Ivanovic was tracking back well to make a sliding clearance as the ball trickled towards goal. Got forward whenever he could to exploit the vulnerable areas on Chelsea’s left.
The 25-year-old was Chelsea’s leading performer last term, but has been underwhelming this season and refused to rule out a summer switch to PSG on the eve of the first leg last month. Lucas Moura and Di Maria’s dribbling bypassed Fabregas in the opening 10 minutes, but apart from their mazy runs, PSG’s threat in the final third was limited due to their conservative possession within Chelsea’s half.
Rabiot was at the heart of the visitors’ game plan, with the languid midfielder effortlessly spraying the ball around from the centre of the pitch with incredible economy and accuracy. In the 67th minute it all changed.
“We started to realise at the start of the season, when things weren’t going how we expected them to”. “We wanted to play, we had a chance to strike, we created the chances and scored two goals”. Ultimately Hiddink’s men should have started the match with this work-rate and dynamism that flustered the away side, and served as the Blues’ main attacking outlet.
“They have to see how to go on and try to regain the lost terrain where Chelsea used to be”. The Belgian appeared to welcome overtures from PSG ahead of the first leg and swapped shirts with Di Maria at half-time, before being booed by a smattering of supporters when he was substituted in the second half.
PSG coach Lauren Blanc believes his tactics were the difference over the course of the two legs in his side’s victory over Chelsea.
A penny for John Terry’s thoughts at full-time – he’ll nearly certainly never play for Chelsea in the Champions League again.
Chelsea’s interim manager Guus Hiddink also heralded Ibrahimovic, whose contract expires at the end of the season, when he was asked if the 34-year-old could cut it in the Premier League. In 37 knock-out UEFA Champions League games, Ibrahimovic has scored just eight goals.
A fantastic goal-line clearance prevented Di Maria giving PSG an early lead.
Although Chelsea conceded in the 16th minute when Ibrahimovic’s cross was turned in by Adrien Rabiot, Diego Costa leveled 11 minutes later on his return from injury. He performed very well along with nearly all of the team.
“We did a good game, we did a very stable game”.
Unfortunately for the hosts, as a compelling contest approached the hour, Costa’s excellent individual display was cut short, with in-form youngster Bertrand Traore on in his place.
Let’s say they were letting us control the game and punishing us when we made our mistakes – that’s how their goal came.
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A composed display built on superb passing outclassed the English champions and confirmed the runaway Ligue 1 leaders as one of the favourites to win this season’s premier European club competition.
