PSG vs Chelsea: Parisians Hungry for Revenge

Eight months after their encounter in the FIFA Club World Cup final on American soil, destiny has reunited PSG with Chelsea. Could this be the perfect opportunity for them to avenge their loss in New York?

The memory of the 0-3 defeat on July 13 last year remains vivid for Luis Enrique and his team. That loss not only deprived them of the chance to win the FIFA Club World Cup. It also meant PSG missed a trophy that would have made last season perfect, as the club had conquered every arena from domestic to continental competitions.

PSG's Achilles' Heel

Therefore, immediately after overcoming their compatriots Monaco in the first knockout round, Enrique openly stated that Chelsea was the opponent he wanted to face in the quarter-finals. Although the Spanish coach tried to avoid mentioning revenge, it was easy to sense the excitement within the PSG camp as they saw an ideal opportunity to defeat the Premier League representative.

The desire to beat Chelsea is even stronger as PSG is under pressure from poor domestic results. The 1-3 loss to Monaco last weekend left PSG just one point ahead of second-placed Lens. This is already PSG's second defeat in Ligue 1 since the start of the year. Beyond complacency creeping into PSG's players, one cannot ignore that domestic opponents have studied and identified their Achilles' heel.

Instead of focusing too much on individual duels, many teams have found that PSG's gameplay revolves around Vitinha and the pair of wing-backs. Simply limiting Vitinha's space by assigning a tight marker is enough to paralyze PSG's attacking flow. These points have surely been noted meticulously by Liam Rosenior and Chelsea's coaching staff while preparing for tonight's expedition to Paris. Most of Chelsea's starting lineup from the FIFA Club World Cup final remains intact, except for the long-term absence of center-back Levi Colwill. So, despite having ample confidence and determination, PSG cannot underestimate Chelsea. Rosenior's team has performed well in crucial matches, from the 3-2 win over Napoli in the Champions League qualifying round to the recent 4-1 victory against Aston Villa last week.

Will PSG's freshness be the decisive factor?

So, what are PSG's hopes for tonight's first leg? Besides the support from the Parc des Princes stands, they have an advantage in physical conditioning compared to Chelsea. Since the loss to Monaco on March 7, they have not played any matches, as the scheduled game against Nantes last weekend was postponed. This is not the first time PSG has postponed a domestic match to gain extra preparation time for a Champions League knockout fixture. Conversely, Rosenior's Chelsea had to play two matches within a few days, including the 4-1 win over Aston Villa in the Premier League last Wednesday and the recent 4-2 victory against Wrexham in the FA Cup.

If someone didn't watch the match, they might think it was a comfortable win for Chelsea. However, the reality at Racecourse Ground showed that Rosenior's team needed 120 minutes and a numerical advantage over Wrexham to settle the game. The 41-year-old coach's plan to rest key players failed, as players like Marc Cucurella and Joao Pedro still had to come on. Cucurella played nearly an hour in the FA Cup, which may not be a positive sign for preparations ahead of the upcoming PSG match. The Spanish defender only recently recovered from a hamstring injury earlier this month. Cucurella was the figure who frustrated PSG's attackers and caused Joao Neves to receive a red card in the FIFA Club World Cup final. Regarding Pedro, no one forgets his impressive performance in the U.S., including a goal against PSG. The Brazilian forward has scored four times in the last two matches and will certainly be a player Enrique's team keeps an eye on.

Another factor PSG needs to consider is Liam Rosenior himself. The 41-year-old coach previously led Strasbourg to a 2-1 victory over PSG last October. The English strategist has faced PSG three times during his 18-month tenure at Strasbourg and knows well what awaits him and Chelsea at the Parc des Princes.