Three goals down, Chelsea knocking Paris Saint-Germain out of the Champions League on Tuesday always seemed unlikely.
Liam Rosenior’s side lost the first leg of their last 16 tie 5-2, giving themselves an impossible task this week.
Of course, anything can happen, while there is no reason why Chelsea cannot at least win the second leg. Well, there was not a reason until Monday afternoon.
Even when Chelsea lose, he’s brilliant 💥
The best right-back in the world!
Chelsea won’t beat PSG without Reece James
It emerged that Reece James has suffered a fresh hamstring injury and will be out for several weeks, making him unavailable for the visit of PSG.
The defender is one of Chelsea’s best players in defence and attack. They need to score goals and keep PSG out at Stamford Bridge, and James could have helped them to do that.
The 26-year-old’s crossing would have been such a dangerous weapon, while James would have perhaps dealt with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia better than Malo Gusto did in the first leg.
Reece James of Chelsea plays during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Chelsea
Photo by Ibrahim Ezzat/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Kvaratskhelia started on the bench, but you would expect him to be named in Luis Enrique’s first XI on Tuesday after scoring two goals against Chelsea last time out.
James played in midfield that night, but with Romeo Lavia’s fitness getting better and Andrey Santos available, the plan may have been for the Englishman to return to right-back, where he can be a threat and deal with Kvaratskhelia.
Kvaratskhelia rates this Chelsea team, but they are a completely different outfit without James. The Georgian will likely see that on Tuesday.
What do you make of Chelsea players’ decision to do their team huddle on the halfway line?
Chelsea players enter a huddle surrounding Referee Paul Tierney
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Reece James’ numbers in first leg
There was one occasion when James was guilty of spending too much time on the ball, but other than that, he was fantastic in the first leg against PSG.
As per Sofascore, the England international created two big chances and made three key passes. He also completed his only cross and finished the game with a passing accuracy of 95%.
James is going to be a big miss in the second leg. His absence gives Chelsea no hope of a win, let alone a complete turnaround of the tie.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox