PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN V CHELSEA ---- TACTICAL BRIEF An anaemic first half at Crystal Palace - in complete contrast to the Arsenal game - was not the best preparation for this tough trip to the French capital. PSG manager Laurent Blanc, the former Manchester United defender, has sent his team out in a 4-3-3 formation in every competition. Upfront that means our former adversaries from Napoli, wide forwards Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi, play behind one of the worlds great strikers, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The former Neapolitans were very impressive and shared the three goals that endangered our Champions League progress in 2012, but they were overwhelmed in the second leg at the Bridge. Their new side is a far more complete outfit. PSGs midfield anchor is Thiago Motta, formerly of Jose Mourinhos Internazionale. Slightly advanced of him are driving midfielder Blaise Matuidi, the rising star of Les Bleus, and goalscoring Italian youngster Marco Verratti. Johan Cabaye joined from Newcastle United in January but usually starts on the bench. Both try to press and win possession high up the field, as will Chelseas advanced trio. The Parisiens full-backs are usually Maxwell, sold from Inter by Mourinho in 2009, and, on the right, injured Gregory van der Wiels ageing understudy, Christophe Jallet, and their system leaves the flanks a little more exposed than under previous manager Carlo Ancelotti. These are probably the weakest positions in PSGs make-up and Blanc has an important call on who squares up to the threat of Eden Hazard, twice Frances Ligue 1 Player of the Year, in 2010/11 and 11/12. The choices are fallible Jallet, who has faced the former Lille forward four times without tasting victory, or 19-year-old Portuguese Marquinhos, who also offers a goal threat (he is the only PSG defender to have netted in this competition). The absent Van der Wiel has assisted more goals than any teammate in this competition. One of the French leaders centre-half options is well known to Blues fans. The Brazilian Alex was loved at the Bridge for his stunning long-range free-kicks. His partner, skipper and most influential figure of PSGs rearguard, is the 29-year-old Brazil international Thiago Silva, once of AC Milan. Goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu vies with veteran Gianluigi Buffon for the Italy Jersey. He is a fine and agile shot stopper, equally capable of thwarting with his feet and hands. However he is sometimes guilty of not parrying clear away from danger, handing sharp attackers a second chance, and is not in his comfort zone when called upon to dominate the area - something that the Blues will be keen to test at set-plays, with aerial strength especially of John Terry, Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic. The Rouge-et-Bleu have conceded several times from set-plays, despite offering a serious threat in those situations themselves at the other end. Like our domestic rivals Manchester City, the Paris clubs main strength lies in the spine of Sirigu, Silva, Motta and Ibrahimovic and they have players either side who can have a significant impact. They are adept at stifling a game and protecting a lead. French opponents have attempted to counter PSGs quality by pressing Silva and Motta and restricting the supply line to their pacy wide offensive players, Verratti and Matuidi. However the general quality of Ligue 1 is not great and the leaders have generally endured, kept possession and dictated play as opponents tire. An easy way around attempts to stifle their patient build-up is Ibrahimovic dropping deeper to receive the ball, holding it up and bringing in their advanced midfielders Lavezzi and Cavani. Ibrahimovic is a wily character and likes to wander out of position, hoping to draw a centre-back with him. John Terry and Gary Cahill have dealt well with other players trying this and were in brilliant form up to the Palace setback last weekend. Cavani is equally comfortable playing as an out and out centre-forward if needs be, and Blanc seems to like one winger (Lavezzi or Lucas Moura) and one inside-forward such as Cavani playing closer to his top scorer. One weakness at Champions League level is that none of the front three works especially hard to win back possession, putting more pressure on their midfield trio. However the player probably best equipped to control that crucial area for Chelsea is Nemanja Matic, who is ineligible in this competition. Ramires has the running to extend his opposite number and David Luiz excelled in central midfield against Man City and Arsenal, but it would no surprise to see Mourinho turn to the experience of Frank Lampard, so impressive at home to Galatasaray in the previous round. With Motta a force in the centre, Chelsea may find more freedom down the flanks, where Matuidi/Maxwell or Verratti/Jallet can struggle when put on the back foot or outnumbered. As the Arsenal game showed this is a very strong area for the Blues, with Hazard/Oscar, Andre Schurrle/Willian or Ramires are all capable of rampaging down the wings. One blow for the Blues is that Samuel Etoo has not travelled because of injury. The experienced Cameroonian, with 33 goals in 80 Champions League matches to his credit, is a big loss. With the second and decisive leg to come Chelsea will hope to have something to defend in a sold-out evening at the Bridge next Tuesday. KEY STAT Chelsea are the only English team to have beaten Paris Saint-Germain on their home ground. chelseafc . KTBFFH
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 16:00:27 +0000
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