Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted a second-half goal as Paris Saint Giant ended Chelsea’s Champions League dreams after claiming a 2-1 win over Guus Hiddink’s team in the second leg of the last-16 tie at Stamford Bridge, thereby progressing through to the quarterfinals of the tournament.
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It was a deserved opener for PSG, whose control of possession was impressive against Chelsea’s more frantic approach, but the home side were able to draw level on 27 minutes, when Costa scored following careless play by Di Maria in the centre of the pitch.
Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc said that Zlatan Ibrahimovic had answered his critics by inspiring his team to victory over Chelsea in the Champions League last 16. I thought it would be tougher than last season.
– Ibrahimovic scored his 50th goal in European competition (incl. qualifiers). All of the players dream to play in the Champions League, we live for the competition and the games. The Russian club’s record of never having reached the Champions League quarterfinals continues.
The Belgian playmaker, Chelsea’s leading performer in last season’s Capital One Cup and Premier League double, was booed by a handful of home supporters as he was replaced 13 minutes from time, nursing a hip injury which makes him a doubt for Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final at Everton.
Costa went off with a calf injury and the visitors wrapped up the match and the tie through Ibrahimovic’s goal.
“You must be careful not to be outplayed in the first part of the game, but we were too respectable”.
“I don’t know. So far nothing is in the discussion”.
“We could not ask him to be game fit at that moment”.
Hiddink confirmed both players will be assessed by the club’s medical staff at Chelsea’s training ground on Thursday to see if they stand a chance of playing at Goodison Park.
Gary Cahill said on chelseafc.com: “We need to refocus as we have one big chance to do something this season and the first hurdle is at the weekend”. Therefore, the final stages of the second half was drab – PSG simply passed their way to full-time, whereas substitutes Bertrand Traore and Oscar didn’t muster up the required energy to help mount what would be a memorable comeback.
Granted space in the inside left channel, the Argentina worldwide ruthlessly picked his cross for Ibrahimovic to thump in PSG’s 100th goal of the season with a close-range volley.
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However, Chelsea were left to contemplate a first season without Champions League football since 2002-03.
