Closed Chelsea v PSG

[Pacquiao 1,834]

Cech

Ivanovic-Zouma-Terry-Azpilicueta

Fabregas-Matic

Ramires-Willian-Hazard

Costa

I think this will be the team that starts except i think Oscar will start ahead of Willian. Jose will want Oscar to do a job on Veratti.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Just rewatched the first leg and I was able to take notice of a few important details that I didn't notice before.

The first thing I paid close attention to was how PSG pressured our midfielders. In the first half David Luiz did a fantastic job of keeping Cesc, Willian and Hazard at bay. He was basically playing a zonal marking system where he sat on any of those players who came centrally to collect from deep. It was a strategy that seemed effective since none of them were effective at playing through the middle. If Luiz starts in the middle again I would suggest overloading the area on the pitch where Verratti is occupying, he seems to be the most rash and mistake prone of the three mids. I would also look to expand the pitch by utilizing our "wingers" on the touch line. Brana will definitely start since Apzi is usually the guy who sits deep and that we normally push on down our right to allow Hazard to have more freedom. This is the average shape I expect to see deployed if the same tactic is deployed by Jose.

The second thing I noticed is the amount of fouls that went unpunished. The ref was very lenient with a lot of overly aggressive PSG players namely, Verratti, Luiz, Van Der Wiel and Maxwell. If they are allowed to press relentlessly without drawing any cards we could be in for another long night. Most of our chances to break were diffused by PSG players who literally pulled back Chelsea players (Jerseys stretched). I saw this at least 3 times and it went without a yellow, normally cynical fouls like that draw warnings. If they were carded appropriately we would've nullified their pressed and unlocked them at least twice. I know the match will be cagey and will likely be played cautiously by both teams so its important that we are extremely incisive when we do get opportunities to break. WIllian(if he starts) and Costa will be so important to how we play, Willian if he is successful at breaking with pace and doesn't dwell on the ball too long. Costa if he can do a decent job playing with his feet and holding up the ball. We are not going to beat them over the top through the middle so i'm hoping the long ball approach we employed at times last game will be less utilized.

The third thing I took note of is how hard it was for us to keep ourselves compact at Parc Du Princes. It is a very big pitch 105m x 68m (Wembley 105 x 68, Old Trafford 105 x 68) compared to Stamford Bridge which is 103 x 67 and the difference was enough for them to find gaps of space to pull us about, mainly down the flanks but also just inside our own half where Luiz took up a DLP role and found channels to get the ball to Zlatan and Matuidi. We should have an easier time with gap control at home but something we will need to be mindful of is the positioning of Ramires and Fab, both players will need to be disciplined for us to be successful. I have a feeling PSG will start Pastore ahead of Lavezzi and if they do, Javier like to drift inside and link up with Zlatan. He is much better in the middle than he is on the flank so he's prone to getting caught drifting inside and both Ramires and Cesc will need to be mindful of him and also exploit the space he leaves on the flank. Our press should be much more effective with less ground to cover but the key is where we decide to activate the press. IMO we should look to press about ten yds inside our own half, this allows our defenders to keep a low block while giving PSG the space to get in behind our press just high enough where we can still be comfortable. Here is the shape I'd like to see for a medium press.

In this example the press should be initialized right around where Ramires and Cesc are with Azpilicueta and Willian the important players in trapping them. If we do this effectively and Zouma and Terry deal with the Aerial ability of Zlatan and Cavani(if they try and go more direct) we should be able to put sufficient amount of pressure on their FB's and CM's and force mistakes.

Just my opinion but having watched the game again I think we can get more out of it if we employ something close to this.

Either way UP THE CHELS!

Since you watched it again, did you notice the amount of aerial balls Ibra won in the air? It made it so easy for PSG to get the ball close to our defence. That was what I noticed during the game, very frustrating knowing how good terry and cahill usually are.

[Jase 43,479]

I think this will be the team that starts except i think Oscar will start ahead of Willian. Jose will want Oscar to do a job on Veratti.

I don't see why Willian can't do a job on Veratti in the No.10 role.

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

Diego Costa will score his first goal in Europe for Chelsea. Then everyone will complain because he scores too much.

[Pacquiao 1,834]

Oscar has been absolutely useless these past games. He is good when inform but it's too risky to play him in such a big game since he basically did nothing the last month.

yet he played well in his last game against West ham, and Jose will want him to do a job on Verratti, and he would give the team better balance with Rami out wide then Willian would

[Pacquiao 1,834]

I don't see why Willian can't do a job on Veratti in the No.10 role.

not just that but Oscar gives better balance with Ramires playing on the wing, as he is more comfortable dropping in midfield, and is better at pressing then Willian, its a toss up really but i think Jose will start Oscar.

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

I don't see why Willian can't do a job on Veratti in the No.10 role.

I don't see why we are overly worried about Veratti, 1) we are the home team with the away goal from the last leg, we should be the ones looking to have all the impetus and be on the front foot and 2) hes a good passer obviously but hes known for going for that spectacular pass instead of doing the simple one sometimes.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Since you watched it again, did you notice the amount of aerial balls Ibra won in the air? It made it so easy for PSG to get the ball close to our defence. That was what I noticed during the game, very frustrating knowing how good terry and cahill usually are.

Diagonal crosses into the box will be our undoing on big pitches. I don't think there will be a lot of space for Zlatan between Cahill(Zouma) and Terry at the bridge though, we should be able to cut those out if we stay compact. My worry is when they start trying to win diagonals against Azpilicueta! On more than a few occasions this year team have been successful winning headers off him.

[Jase 43,479]

I don't see why we are overly worried about Veratti, 1) we are the home team with the away goal from the last leg, we should be the ones looking to have all the impetus and be on the front foot and 2) hes a good passer obviously but hes known for going for that spectacular pass instead of doing the simple one sometimes.

Maybe but in these games, we can't take chances, can we? For all we know, we could be KOed because Veratti sets someone up to score with one long great pass. Every little detail is important. Also, I doubt we're going to be on the front foot. Mourinho will probably allow PSG to do that since we have the away goal.

[Pacquiao 1,834]

I don't see why we are overly worried about Veratti, 1) we are the home team with the away goal from the last leg, we should be the ones looking to have all the impetus and be on the front foot and 2) hes a good passer obviously but hes known for going for that spectacular pass instead of doing the simple one sometimes.

you stop Verratti then it will be very hard for PSG to have any kind of control of the game.

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

Maybe but in these games, we can't take chances, can we? For all we know, we could be KOed because of one long glorious pass from Veratti. Every little detail will be important. Also, I doubt we're going to be on the front foot. Mourinho will probably allow PSG to do that since we have the away goal.

Lets be honest, Verratti is going to be too busy being a cunt making cuntish tackles and will probably (...ok hopefully) get himself sent off.

More concerned about Cavani and Ibra than Verratti, they had it far too easy in France especially second half.

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

you stop Verratti then it will be very hard for PSG to have any kind of control of the game.

PSG aren't just dependent on Verratti though, Thiago Motta, David Luiz, Cabaye are all players who can do the same. We concentrate too much on stopping Verratti and then Motta or Luiz or someone will do what he was doing and we will have the same problem. I think we should attack them this game, we let them come at us and it goes like in France then it will be a tough night, I am surprised they didn't get more than one goal that night.

[Jase 43,479]

Lets be honest, Verratti is going to be too busy being a cunt making cuntish tackles and will probably (...ok hopefully) get himself sent off.

Mourinho will leave nothing to chance.

More concerned about Cavani and Ibra than Verratti, they had it far too easy in France especially second half.

Definitely need to stop the supply of crosses. Too many were put into the box in the first leg and we didn't even pressure the ball. Also worried with PSG targeting Azpi at the far post in this situation. Happened quite a bit in France. He's never going to beat Ibrahimovic or Cavani in the air.

[Pacquiao 1,834]

Lets be honest, Verratti is going to be too busy being a cunt making cuntish tackles and will probably (...ok hopefully) get himself sent off.

More concerned about Cavani and Ibra than Verratti, they had it far too easy in France especially second half.

yes because Verratti ran the game in the 2nd half, thats one of the main reasons they dominated the 2nd half, we gave Verratti too much time on the ball

[illmatic 901]

By the way - 10 years ago today

Time really does fly...

What a good memories, for this times I was beginning to see European football, and of course, to support the Chelsea, I think that I saw that game but only have vague memories.

9 years old at this time, now the double ... as time passes.

Hoping that 10 years later, we live another night like this.

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

yes because Verratti ran the game in the 2nd half, thats one of the main reasons they dominated the 2nd half, we gave Verratti too much time on the ball

Verratti, Luiz, Matuidi... all three of them had too much time.

[Pacquiao 1,834]

PSG aren't just dependent on Verratti though, Thiago Motta, David Luiz, Cabaye are all players who can do the same. We concentrate too much on stopping Verratti and then Motta or Luiz or someone will do what he was doing and we will have the same problem. I think we should attack them this game, we let them come at us and it goes like in France then it will be a tough night, I am surprised they didn't get more than one goal that night.

They cant do the same as Verratti, maybe Motta, but he isnt as dangerous, if Oscar does a job on Verratti, they will struggle

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

Mourinho will leave nothing to chance.

Definitely need to stop the supply of crosses. Too many were put into the box in the first leg and we didn't even pressure the ball. Also worried with PSG targeting Azpi at the far post in this situation. Happened quite a bit in France. He's never going to beat Ibrahimovic or Cavani in the air.

Yeah was quite a smart move by Blanc to put one of his stronger headers up against Azpi but even if we play Filipe Luis its the same problem so like you said, stopping the crosses is vital but it was obvious Mourinho was comfortable with PSG having the ball in France after getting the goal (like vs United, City in previous games) but I hope he sends us out to be a lot more offensive and positive.

[Pacquiao 1,834]

Verratti, Luiz, Matuidi... all three of them had too much time.

Verratti is the one who ran the game.

[Jase 43,479]

Yeah was quite a smart move by Blanc to put one of his stronger headers up against Azpi but even if we play Filipe Luis its the same problem so like you said, stopping the crosses is vital but it was obvious Mourinho was comfortable with PSG having the ball in France after getting the goal (like vs United, City in previous games) but I hope he sends us out to be a lot more offensive and positive.

To be honest, wouldn't necessarily call that a smart move. It was just the logical thing to do really and they nearly reaped the rewards from that approach. If we are going to let them have the ball again, then we can't let them create so many chances and clear cut ones like they did in the first leg.