Paris Saint-Germain manager Laurent Blanc has revealed that his side were by far the superior team in the game against Chelsea.
The Parisians could only manage a draw against Jose Mourinho’s side in the first leg of the last-16 tie of the UEFA Champions League despite dominating the game. The French champions could score only once despite having 14 shots on target compared to Chelseaa s two shots out of which they managed to score via a Branislav Ivanovica s header.
The draw means that Chelsea are slight favourites and Blanc admitted that he was disappointed with the result, “We were better than Chelsea in all areas on Tuesday, so I am disappointed with the final score,” he told reporters on Friday.
“I’m not saying that we are better than Chelsea, but in that game, Paris were on top.
“We are now trying to prepare ourselves properly in order to try to win the tactical battle in the second leg.
“However, just as we crushed them in the first leg, they might well crush us in the return!”
Striker Edinson Cavani put in a good display and has been good in the last few weeks. There were reports that Blanc doesn’t prefer the Uruguayan, but he dismissed such reports, I do not engage in personal battles [with players],” he added. “I am the coach of PSG and I try to give the best of myself.
“What is terrible with you journalists is that you issue opinions and ask after the protagonists to comment on them. It bothers me.
“Regarding Cavani, I have always said he was a great player and he was going to return to form.”
PSG have some tough games coming up in the Ligue 1 before facing Chelsea in the return leg at Stamford Bridge. Blanc’s men are currently in third spot in the French league, two points behind league leaders Lyon. They were eliminated from the Champions League by Chelsea last season on away goals and will want to put in a better performance in London this time around. With Chelsea having scored in the draw, it’s PSG who have to score in the second leg if they want to progress into the quarterfinals.
With a strike force of Ibrahimovic, Cavani and Lavezzi, there is no reason why they cannot come to Stamford Bridge and score, if not win. The second leg is set to take place on March the 11th and it promises to be an intriguing encounter.