UCL · Quarterfinals · First Leg - Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea

The first leg of the quarterfinals of the 2014 UEFA Champions League sees Premier League-leaders Chelsea take on Ligue 1-leaders Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes in Paris, France on Wednesday the Second of April. Both sides will be coming into this match with their eyes likely firmly fixed on a specific objective. For the visitors, José Mourinho will doubtless, true to protocol, be aiming for an away goal and to avoid a loss. Such has been the Portuguese's strategic mainstay in this competition's knockout stages throughout his career. Indeed, the Blues' Round of 16 tie against Turkish outfit Galatasary a few weeks previous was one that saw the away leg produce a score-draw, before the Londoners won out back at home in the second leg to advance. The same will almost assuredly be the case in this tie as well, with Mourinho invariably believing a draw at the very least, with an away goal or more, will be enough to position his side with the best possible chance at advancing, and set them up superbly for the second leg to do the business back in London. The Parisians, alternatively, will undoubtedly be aiming for a decisive win here. The capital club's manager, Laurent Blanc, will surely have Chelsea's supreme form and record at Stamford Bridge under José Mourinho in the back of his mind even before the home leg, and will be aware conceding a positive result to their visitors on Wednesday evening could spell trouble for the inexperienced side going into the away leg.



















PSG triumphed over German side Bayer Leverkusen 6-1 on aggregate, including a 4-0 thumping in the Bundesliga outfit's backyard in Gameweek 1, which included a first PSG goal from former Premier League midfielder Yohan Cabaye and an absolute wondergoal from Zlatan Ibrahimović.










Chelsea, conversely, made a bit of a tougher time of their own knockout round tie, though got through just the same in the end. A 1-1 draw in Istanbul, while not a horrible result against a side whose home record reads very much like that of José Mourinho's at Chelsea, would still have had the Turks feeling confident ahead of the second leg. That turned out not to be the case at all, however, and Chelsea brushed aside their woeful visitors on the night 2-0, yielding a 3-1 aggregate scoreline over both legs.




























Paris boss Laurent Blanc had some pointed words for his visiting counterpart this past week in the lead up to Wednesday's affair, vowing not to be pulled into the Portuguese's 'mind games' and saying that the decorated boss, while being someone he admired, always operates in a set, and strategic, way in his pre-game media dealings; "I will not play this game. It is my choice," said the former France manager. "Mourinho is going to talk, to comment, it's the way he operates. He said PSG are the favourites – when he says something it's always premeditated. I don't think like him. We have the same chances as Chelsea. We're going to have to play a great game against a great team and a great coach. He is one of the greatest. I say so because I think so." — (quotes via The Guardian)










Chelsea look likely to be without striker Samuel Eto'o after the Cameroonian picked up an injury early into the Blues' 6-0 annihilation of Arsenal a week and a half earlier, but otherwise have no injury concerns.

Great preview as always Shed.

I'm thinking that we'll just nick it but I'm pretty sure we won't be going home with a clean sheet.

The difference in conversion rate  

Soul wrote:Great preview as always Shed.

I'm thinking that we'll just nick it but I'm pretty sure we won't be going home with a clean sheet.

Thanks Souly.


I think so too. Our mob always always play to the level of the opposition so I wouldn't expect a shit on a stick performance in these 2 legs like we saw horrifically on display yesterday, and I think PSG's style of play - though granted I don't watch them regularly - will play into Mourinho's hands perfectly. Nevertheless, these are a fantastic side and it will be tough any way things pan out. By no means cut and dry for either side.

We'll walk them over two legs. I'm confident as ever.

You, confident?! You don't sayyy...

You, pessimistic?! You don't sayyy...

Erm, did I not say I think we'd go through?


#learntoread

You're still on average pessimistic.

#canthandlethetruth

BTW what is the point of hashtags? Stupidest thing ever invented. Thanks Twitter

El Chelsea Fuerte wrote:You're still on average pessimistic.

#canthandlethetruth

When the 'truth' (i.e the reality of things) is turning out to be exactly what I've been saying on here all along, how is it pessimism?

Shed wrote:

El Chelsea Fuerte wrote:You're still on average pessimistic.

#canthandlethetruth

When the 'truth' (i.e the reality of things) is turning out to be exactly what I've been saying on here all along, how is it pessimism?

So you just admitted that you're pessimistic. Guilty conscious.

We always knew you were a useless poster Fuerts, but turns out you aren't even a good WUM either

Shed wrote:We always knew you were a useless poster Fuerts, but turns out you aren't even a good WUM either

Since when did you become 'we' ?

I'm speaking about the boards as a whole. I hate to break it you mate, but this whole forum has your number.

Shed wrote:I'm speaking about the boards as a whole.

Exactly. You don't have the authority to do that. Kick is the mod and thus the boss and thus the only one who can represent the board. You're quite insignificant.   

Kick can't force forum members what to think. The entire board hates you, lad. Just take it on the chin and move on. Everything'll be okay, really.

Shed wrote:Kick can't force forum members what to think.

So basically you're boasting that you're a dictator

I shall no longer abet you in polluting MY matchday thread with your nonsensical idiocy

Be gone, vile bug

Tch, tch as soon as you realize Team Shed might start losing its appeal because of the bully image you have promoted of yourself based on today's statements, you back down

This thread was created for the purpose of discussing this midweek's Champions League match, not as an outlet for your winding up fetish.


Bugger off
-
Or I shall have no choice but to take the matter to one of our esteemed mods

You started it:

Shed wrote:You, confident?! You don't sayyy...

  

A light-hearted jab or 2 made in jest is very much the norm on these boards, as you'll find is universally the case. A page or two of it is reserved for a special kind of wum.


Congrats, you fit into the second category perfectly

Shed stahp going off-topic again.

^ Continual thread derailment



The matter has been taken to a higher power and is currently pending under the authority of Chelsea Section Moderator Kick E. Mars



Pack your bags, bucko. You're outta here