Jose Mourinho is a happy man. One goal achieved, league leaders and now time to finish off PSG and wrap up Chelsea's position in the quarter-final draw on the 20th of March. These are wonderful times at a club that just turned 110 years and won the league cup last weekend. They have been here before. In fact the task was more daunting than the one currently staring them in the face. A 3-1 loss at the PdP was quickly turned into a 2-0 success in West London. Nevertheless, things have changed for the Paris-based club.
Laurent Blanc has reshaped and revitalised Les Parisien since he arrived and it is no surprise that they are doing very well in all competitions this term. Hubert Fournier's Lyonais ain't ready to lose grip of the leadership in Ligue 1 but time will tell. Attention switched swiftly to Europe after PSG blitzed Lens on Saturday to sir briefly at the top of Le Championnat until Lyon with Fekir and Alex Lacazette in rampaging form climbed back to the summit with a come from behind 5-1 annihilation of Montpellier. Blanc can call upon Thiago Motta who is expected to partner Blaise Matuidi and Marco 'pocket rocket' Verratti in midfield. The Brazilian didn't feature in the 1st leg but his experience is needed tonight.
The blues have firepower in abundance. With JT and Diego Costa scoring the goals that sealed the League Cup deal, the likes of Hazard and Fabregas whose assists flurry has cooled for some time now are ready to be the main men. Diego Costa's goal last weekend was the first he has scored outside the League since he arrived from Atletico Madrid. Still awaits his first UCL goal as a pensioner. Nemanja Matic can breathe a sigh of relief as a domestic ban has limited his playing time. He is most definitely back for tonight. One of the best acquisitions of recent memory.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's record v Mourinho is played 7, scored 0. The Swede who is 16 goals away fro breaking the all time PSG scoring record held by Portugal and PSG legend, Pauleta, has to improve on the aforementioned statistic. He's the talisman for the visiting club and must live up to his world class tag. Marco Verratti shone like a million stars at the PdP and was graceful all through the game. Another display similar to the last one will be a bonus for his club.
PSG will be very much aware that Mourinho and Chelsea are a very different proposition at home. The 2012 European champions are almost impregnable at Stamford Bridge and if form is anything to go by, Chelsea should see this through, no matter how tough it seems/plays out. Mourinho has his eyes lit and firmly set on winning the Champions League with Chelsea. That is the only remaining trophy absent from his West London collectibles. His second coming has that quest written all over it.
OHIREIME PRINCETON EBOREIME
@lordbaruda1987
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