Chelsea are busy preparing for a mouth-watering Champions League last 16 first-leg clash in Paris against Luis Enrique’s side on Wednesday night, and Julien Laurens has backed Chelsea to win.
In a re-run of the Club World Cup final, a game which saw a Cole Palmer-inspired Chelsea make the Champions League winners look average, Liam Rosenior will be tasked with a repeat of that victory.
PSG are not the side they were last season. Even domestically, PSG only remain a point above Lens in Ligue 1. They come into the game after a 3-1 home defeat to Denis Zakaria’s Monaco side.
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Chelsea, meanwhile, have won their last two games. Crucial victories that have kept their top-five hopes alive, while also maintaining the chance of silverware. Now, Laurens thinks Chelsea will beat PSG.
Why Julien Laurens is predicting a Chelsea win over PSG
The French journalist, who is widely respected both in England and in his home nation, was speaking on ESPN this week. He believes that Chelsea not only win on Wednesday, but that they will knock PSG out.
Aston Villa v Chelsea - Premier League
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Laurens believes PSG’s issues in midfield, with Fabian Ruiz injured and Joao Neves a doubt, will benefit the physical Chelsea side that are expected to field Moises Caicedo, Reece James and Enzo Fernandez.
“The big difference here, and it could be 50-50, the second leg at Stamford Bridge is significant. Also, the physicality this Chelsea team has, especially in midfield, is everything that is lacking at PSG right now.
“Hakimi and Dembele are nowhere near at the level they were last season. They don’t have the intensity, energy. Without that, the press, counter-press, rotation isn’t as efficient. I expect Chelsea to go through.”
Julien Laurens is not the only one to back Chelsea
Morale, feel-good factor, and fan optimism; Chelsea are far ahead of PSG. Not only that, but with Chelsea going into the last 16 via the top eight and not the play-offs, they are at home in the second leg.
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Clinton Morrison believes Chelsea will get the better of PSG over the two legs, while Frank Leboeuf thinks Chelsea’s midfield will overpower PSG’s engine room, as Laurens alludes to in his prediction this week.
Rosenior has a solid record against PSG as Strasbourg manager, winning, drawing and losing one apiece in his three matches against Luis Enrique’s side. Chelsea have a real chance to knock PSG out.
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