Last July, Chelsea shocked pundits and fans alike with a brilliant Club World Cup final win over PSG. Now, Bradley Barcola has been asked if the French champions want “revenge”.
A Cole Palmer brace and a goal from in-form Joao Pedro saw Chelsea stun the world with an incredible 3-0 win in New York. The victory saw Chelsea beat the Champions League winners, the world’s best side.
Eight months on, and the situation is different. PSG are no longer the fluent, efficient, exciting side they were previously. Injuries have played their part, while Nuno Mendes has denied that fatigue is an issue.
Can Chelsea produce a repeat of the Club World Cup final?
PSG aren't the side they were last season!
But this is a PSG side that are vulnerable compared to the team that Chelsea beat in the Club World Cup final last July. Bradley Barcola says if revenge is on the mind of PSG’s players going into the last 16 clash.
Bradley Barcola discusses Chelsea and PSG getting revenge
If PSG are going to earn themselves a first-leg advantage, Luis Enrique will have to rely on his young guns. Fabian Ruiz is injured and Ousmane Dembele is only likely to be fit enough for the bench later tonight.
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Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images
The likes of Desire Doue and Barcola will take the game to Chelsea, the latter boasting 16 goals and assists this season. Speaking in PSG’s pre-match press conference, Barcola says if revenge is on the radar.
“We’re not out for revenge because this is a different period, a different competition, but we really want to win this double header. We know that Chelsea are a very good team that plays well,” Barcola said.
Why Chelsea have a real chance of beating PSG tonight
As aforementioned, PSG are struggling in midfield. After years of Ligue 1 domination, Enrique’s side sit only one point above Lens at the moment, and that shows just how difficult it has been for PSG so far.
Chelsea have a real chance of beating PSG 👊
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Midfield is an issue for the French side. Julien Laurens believes Chelsea’s physicality could be enough to get them over the line over the two legs, while Frank Leboeuf has identified PSG’s midfield as a weakness.
Liam Rosenior will be delighted if the Blues can avoid defeat in Paris tonight, with home advantage next week. But Chelsea have their problems too, with Rosenior refusing to name his goalkeeper tonight.
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