Chelsea blues as PSG wins in Ibra’s ‘absence’
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ZLATAN Ibrahimovic is integral to Paris Saint-Germain’s five-year plan to win the Champions League but in beating Chelsea 3-1 in the quarterfinal first leg on Wednesday the French club proved it can manage when he goes missing.
The Sweden striker was a pale shadow of his usual brilliant self as he failed to score or create chances for his teammates, going off midway through the second half with a thigh injury that looks like keeping him out of the return leg in London.
On the surface his absence would appear a bitter blow for PSG, especially as the talismanic striker has 10 Champions League goals this season, but in Ezequiel Lavezzi it has a player hitting top form at just the right time.
“He’s reached a level of fitness that allows him to make forays into the defense,” coach Laurent Blanc told reporters.
“He brings depth and speed. And now he scores goals. He was our best man.”
Lavezzi, who joined from Napoli in 2012, the same year Ibrahimovic left Milan for Paris, struggled initially but he is now repaying his coach’s faith, having scored seven goals from his last eight appearances in all competitions.
After Ibrahimovic was substituted by Lucas, the Brazil forward showed great pace to rattle Chelsea and late sub Javier Pastore scored a stunning solo goal as PSG coped superbly without the Swede to establish a two-goal cushion.
The Argentina playmaker gathered the ball on the right wing, cut inside and then jinked his way through the penalty area before planting a low shot inside goalkeeper Petr Cech’s near post.
“It was a horrible time to concede,” center half Gary Cahill told British broadcaster Sky Sports. “It’s a sloppy goal and unlike us. It was difficult to come here; 2-1 would have been okay to take to Stamford Bridge. It’s devastating.”
Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho was more scathing.
“He (Cahill) says sloppy. I say ridiculous,” later adding. “It’s not a goal, it’s a joke.”
Almost halfway through the Qatari owners’ five-year plan to win Europe’s premium club competition, PSG is now beginning to look like a side capable of delivering ahead of time.
“Our players are getting to know each other more and more, and we’ve had more time to work together,” said man of the match Lavezzi. “The results have improved because of that, which is normal.”
Lavezzi is well placed to know that the tie is far from over having been in the Napoli side that was beaten 4-1 at Stamford Bridge in the last 16 in 2012, having won the first leg 3-1. But then the Argentine is confident PSG have what it takes to weather the storm.
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