If everyone will believe that we can do it, if we will press them like animals since the first whistle, then things will work for us. We're still top club, a lot of quality players and let's not forget that we're still UNBEATEN and we're coming after a big win. Seems like our players starting to get their motivation back to play for the club and payback for what happened at the beginning of the season. I can't lose my hope and I think we're going to surprise the world and win PSG, everyone should believe that it's possible!

 

The big loss is JT, we need his experience and leadership, but if he will miss this, we can't give up! 

 

I'd like to see this starting line:

 

------------------------------------------- Courtois --------------------------------------------

 

Azpilicueta ----------------- Cahill --------------- Ivanovic ---------------- Baba Rahman

 

-------------------------------- Fabregas -------- Mikel --------------------------------------

 

Pedro --------------------------------- Willian ------------------------------------- Pedro

 

---------------------------------------- Diego Costa --------------------------------------------

 

 

 

We got Diego in form, we're unbeaten and we're CHELSEA! Let's do this, come on CHELS!!!

Looking forward to this.

 

As lots are saying, we need to press them hard right out of the gates and score early!!!

 

Terry not being there is a massive blow for us, we will have the rely on Ivan as captain and for him to manage the squad on the field! Not too worried about him being as CB though.

 

Matic Out

Eden not fully fit 

 

My starting XI:

 

Tibo

 

Baba

Gary

Ivan

Azpi

 

Mikel 
Feb

 

Pedro

Oscar

William

 

Costa

 

 

- Bring on Eden for Pedro

- Bring on RLC for Mikel

- Bring on Kennedy for Oscar

 

 

Done deal 3 -1 Chelsea (Willian, Costa, Ivan!)

Last season we were second-best to this lot by quite a distance, but there's few teams in Europe I dislike as much as them. Their fans are whining gits by and large and their players aren't much better.

 

The problem is that they're a better squad than us at the moment. They're a very well-balanced club, and their midfield options alone are an embaressment of riches and planning. The experience of Motta, the tenacious brilliance of Verratti, the engine of Matuidi (remind me of Essien sometimes), the youth of Rabiot and the flair of players like Di Maria and Pastore.

 

They're not perfect and I think they have some weak spots but the biggest things that could go our way are complacency from their lack of challenge in the league and maybe some personal conflicts in the camp. I actually do think that if we come out of the traps fast we could really surprise them, but over 180 minutes you'd expect class to tell.

 

If they give Cesc time in midfield then we've got a chance, but if they stick Matuidi and Verratti on him (if they're available) then I think it's a struggle. 

 

The BOLD bit above is very revisionist.  They scraped past us by an away goal at a time when we were playing sh*te.  Someone else said Bradford and the two PSG games were our worst last season, and I agree with that.  The rest of what you said, I sorta agree with (tentatively, I know)

 

They beat us with 10 men when we were top of the league. I have no hope for this game. Anything positive is a bonus for me.

 

They really didn't.  They went through on an away goal.  They didn't actually beat us.

Edited February 15, 201610 yr by yorkleyblue

we have the players to worry them, and i think that we can certainly score there

...Seems like most of their goals against us are headers!

I expect this to be the game that the old Eden finally shows up. I think he's been rested with this match in mind and will most likely be deployed behind Costa.

Pedro deserves a start after his performance against Newcastle and the defense picks itself

Teebo

Azpi - Ivan - Gaz - Baba

Fab - Mikel

Willian - Hazard - Pedro

Costa

I expect this to be the game that the old Eden finally shows up. ...

 

 

Kind of a double edge sword really - If he plays well PSG want him even more than they already do!

 

If he doesn't we risk losing the game but PSG might lose interest!

We need a win here.

Don't think we are capable of keeping a clean sheet at the Bridge against this lot.

Kind of a double edge sword really - If he plays well PSG want him even more than they already do!

 

If he doesn't we risk losing the game but PSG might lose interest!

 

It doesn't really matter if PSG want Hazard because he will never join them anyway. He's already said there is nothing left for him to achieve in France.

It doesn't really matter if PSG want Hazard because he will never join them anyway. He's already said there is nothing left for him to achieve in France.

 

PSG's pulling power could change that perception if the goal is the Champions League.

Edited February 15, 201610 yr by Jon Stakes

PSG's pulling power could change that perception if the goal is the Champions League.

 

I have just found out about that interview he has apparently had. If what he has said is true then he has made a dick of himself really.

It doesn't really matter if PSG want Hazard because he will never join them anyway. He's already said there is nothing left for him to achieve in France.

 

Hazard - "Difficult to say no to PSG, as with all teams capable of winning the Champions League," he is quoted as telling Le Parisien.

"Now, PSG is part of this category. And for me, winning the Champions League is the main objective.

"But for now, I do not dwell on it."

Read more at http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/difficult-say-no-psg-hazard#kBOy2TkSyQtZVTlo.99

If he wants the Champions League so bad he should start pulling his finger out and put some strong performances in.

We all know what he is capable of.

Good morning fellow Chelsea fans !

 

First of all I would seize this opportunity to thank you and all Englishmen for your support and your thoughts back in November.

 

Regarding the coming game, I think it will be a couple of fairly opened games and yes PSG is favorite as I assume most of football observers would consider it normal for the PSG to reach the 1/4 finals considering the current states of the two teams. I personally fear Chelsea a lot because you are more used to that kind of games than we are.

 

I have read the previous comments and it seems that what you "fear" most is our midfield. We indeed have high quality players in that area but having Verratti and Pastore at a non 100% condition is a huge liability. Matuidi is seen by most of you as a top player but I (and many PSG observers) think he is just an ok player surrounded by formidable ones such as Motta and Verratti who are in an other league.

 

Regarding the Aurier case: I couldn't care less about this player who is overvalued in my opinion. Marquinhos is a far better player, 10 times smarter, more precise and very difficult to overplay. He is a fantastic defense player that could be compared to Ivanovic somehow. Our team is better with Aurier off who concedes so many free kicks and relies only on his physical abilities to catch up with his misplacement on the pitch.

 

Finally regarding our coach, Laurent Blanc's work is praised by most but I personally think his management over the last year is the cause of the loss of Cavani, Lavezzi and Pastore to some extent. So we show up against one of the most regular teams in CL with a row of three attackers/offensive midfield players (Ibra, Di Maria, Lucas/Cavani) with:

- Ibra: not a single good set of games in the 2nd phase of the CL (except his two goals versus Arsenal when playing for Barcelona that I think you particularly enjoyed^^)

- Lucas or Cavani : a disappointment. Lucas being Lucas and Cavani being the shadow of the player he used to be (I blame Blanc for that) 

when we could have relied on a fantastic four with Pastore, Di Maria, Ibra and Cavani would the team management have been any better.

 

I wish the ones of you coming to the Parc des Princes a great journey and I hope we (PSG fans) would be able to welcome you properly and thank you for your nice gesture after the shootings.  

The BOLD bit above is very revisionist.  They scraped past us by an away goal at a time when we were playing sh*te.  Someone else said Bradford and the two PSG games were our worst last season, and I agree with that.  The rest of what you said, I sorta agree with (tentatively, I know)

 

In the second leg they 'scraped past us' with 10 men. We were awful that night but I was at the Bradford game, and walking out of that one a lot of fans were laughing it off. We put out a weaker team but things like this happen in the Cup. 

 

The PSG one was bad, not just because it went into extra-time but because we looked so flat. On the scoresheet it looked very even but that midfield of their's absolutely bossed us.

 

The biggest factor in this match might be Verratti's fitness and form because for me, he's their key player and one of the best in Europe at what he does. If him and Matuidi can shut Fabregas down then he can do awful, naughty, painful, rude, banned-in-53-states-oh-please-use-lube-next-time-Marco-my-safe-word-is-Souleymann-type things to us.

I'm expecting something like this:

 

 

------------------------------------------- Courtois --------------------------------------------

 

Azpilicueta ----------------- Cahill --------------- Ivanovic ---------------- Baba Rahman

 

-------------------------------- Fabregas -------- Mikel --------------------------------------

 

Pedro --------------------------------- Oscar ------------------------------------- Willian

 

---------------------------------------- Diego Costa --------------------------------------------

If injuries force us into playing Ivanovic and Cahill as our centre back pairing, which in turn forces us to start Rahman, my thoughts are that Guus' natural reaction would be to start Mikel and Matic. With the latter unavailable through suspension, I have no clue who he will choose. It will almost certainly prove to be worth it in the long run, but I imagine the phrase 'why the f**k did we sell Ramires?' will be entering a lot of Chelsea fans' minds by the end of Tuesday night.

Because we got 25 million for a player that cannot pass the ball, if we had kept Ramires and sold him at the end of the season to a non Chinese club we would be lucky to get 15 million for him. Great business by the club, regardless unless we have another miracle of Munich season we are not gonna win the CL anyway, if we did we would be relying on an awful lot of luck like we had in 2012, albeit thoroughly deserved after the lack of luck over years previously. I do agree we lack a bit in centre midfield with regards to strength in depth though, Mikel will need to have a great game for us to get a positive result I feel.  

 

My preferred starting 11 would be: 

                Courtois,

Ivanovic Terry(if fit) Cahill Azpi, 

            Mikel, Fabregas, 

Willian       Oscar        Hazard

                 Costa

 

We cannot afford to ride our luck like we did last year in the away leg, really feel we need to score again anyway. Hopefully we can force a mistake from David Luiz. We also need to make sure we take advantage of every free kick, hopefully Willians delivery will be good on the night. 

Good news, JT trained today.

Good news, JT trained today.

 

Good?  Fantastic you mean!

Did they? The way i saw it was, other then the Bradford game where we didn't have our strongest team out our 2 worst performances last season were home and away to PSG i thought we were awful in both games and they still couldn't beat us.

Semantics. We still went out with our worst display. I am glad you are optimistic. I am not.

Good? Fantastic you mean!

I was trying not to over sell it.

If there is a downside to JT playing, it is Brana goes back to RB!!!!!!

Scan on JT's thigh showed no tear...and as he trained today he should be fit to play...looks like the Brana Chill JT Dave line up again then...don't know if that's good or bad?

Our form this season has been nothing short of horrific, and an unbeaten run under Hiddink is doing nothing to paper over the fact that we are terrible. I always said that if we were to draw one of the European heavyweights assuming we progressed past the group stage, we would be embarrassed. PSG are in another class this season.

 

PSG 5-0 Chelsea

 

Better to go out now rather than play Barcelona or Bayern.

 

I also believe that Terry coming back is going to be a burden. I would rather Ivanovic got shifted into the middle with Dave playing at right back. The team looks better offensively when Ivanovic isn't running up the wing and doing nothing with the ball. Hazard is also terrible at the moment. If we are to get anything out of the game I'd rather we see this team:

 

                Courtois
Dave -- Cahill -- Ivan -- Rahman
   Loftus-Cheek -- Fabregas
   Willian -- Oscar -- Pedro
                  Costa

Give Pedro some time as he'll be sky high after his performance on Saturday, although he still needs to learn how to finish properly and control the ball.

 

Mikel has to stay out of the side if any of us want to see any kind of urgency. Hazard will be better coming off the bench than offering nothing for 90 minutes. Terry will be looking slow coming back from that niggly injury.