8th April, 2014
PSG boss Laurent Blanc has said his side will impose their attacking philosophies on Chelsea as they defend a 3-1 first-leg lead in the quarter finals of the Champions League.
There will be no parking of the bus at Stamford Bridge tonight if Blanc’s pre-match comments are anything to go by.
The French champions are not going to sit back and let Chelsea come onto them in a bid to claw back the deficit.
Blanc said: “We have a certain philosophy to our play. You don’t necessarily base how you play and your game philosophy on the level you’re playing in.
“We believe in certain things and I’ve always actually believed in this particular philosophy that taking the game to the opposition is the best way of winning trophies.
“Our philosophy is an attacking one. We like to keep the ball and try and pose problems to our opposition but if we really want to be a top level European side we need to be able to actually put this philosophy into practice both in Paris but also away from home.
“Today, we’re going to have potentially some issues in the first 20 minutes. Chelsea are going to come out at us because they will have analysed the first leg and they will have seen that they are already two goals behind.
“So I think they’re going to be very aggressive and come out and try and score. It’s up to us to try and be very calm and even try to counteract Chelsea’s play.
“We try and enact our philosophy as often as possible regardless of the opposition. Chelsea are clearly a very good side but it would be wonderful to be able to qualify by putting this philosophy into action in the match.”
Jose Mourinho has urged his Chelsea old guard to spark a night of Champions League glory at Stamford Bridge. The Blues boss is expected to start with a spine of goalkeeper Petr Cech, centre-back John Terry, midfielder Frank Lampard and Samuel Eto’o leading the line as they bid to overcome a 3-1 first leg deficit against Paris Saint Germain.
The experienced foursome total 132 years between them with an average age of 33.
But Mourinho believes his golden quartet can whip up the Stamford Bridge crowd into frenzy with a five-star display to reach the semi-finals.
Mourinho said: “We need the supporters but we know that, with us, it’s difficult for them to support because we know that, normally at home, we play well.
“So I think they have also hoped that we can do something. I think they understand that, if they can push us a little, that push is welcome. But I think everything starts with us. Everything starts with us. If we can show that we can do it, I think they will come with us.”