PSG v Chelsea: The One Where the Result Didn't Matter

Diego Costa doesn't do friendlies

Chelsea had the opportunity to take revenge for their Champions League exit! Or so the buildup to last night’s pre-season friendly would have you believe. But a pre-season friendly in America doesn’t quite hold the same gravitas amongst fans as say the actual Champions League. Shocking revelations, I know.

Aside from the obvious shirt sale extravaganzas, the matches are meant to prepare the team for games that actually matter. Or pseudo competitions like next week’s big plate competition - otherwise known as the first time Chelsea have to see Petr Cech in the wrong kit. The oh so very wrong kit.
Sorry — I need a moment here …

So did Chelsea look ready to face a man who’s won 2 “trophies” in his 2 appearances for Arsenal? Well, no. although many will have you believe that Chelsea looked the better team before PSG opened the scoring, it wasn’t really the case. In fact it would be difficult to make a case for either team looking good in those opening 20 minutes.

There was an inevitability to Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s opening goal. He was easily the best player on the pitch. Aside from the cheeky punch on John Terry who was far too much of a man to react or complain. John Obi Mikel has taken much of the blame for the goal but at the end of the day, not a single one of the 10 outfield players thought it pertinent to cover one of Europe’s top strikers. Ibrahimovic was left on his lonesome to make easy work of a difficult shot and put PSG up after 25 minutes.

Asmir Begovic eased some of the nerves that his previous appearance had rattled with a number of top saves to ensure that Chelsea went into the break just a goal down. Begovic took a lot of criticism for conceding 4 to NY Red Bulls in his last appearance — despite it being the defence that let him down. The PSG game wasn’t much different.

Jose Mourinho must have had a very loud word with the players at half time as the second half started with the players looking like they actually meant it. Just past the hour mark it was Victor Moses who found himself lucky enough to be on the end of a phenomenal pass from none other than Cesc Fàbregas.

Chelsea went on to win on penalties with Thibaut Courtois stepping up for the winner - and who doesn’t love a goalkeeper taking a penalty?! Other than that, much of the game was relatively unremarkable. But at least it wasn’t a 4-2 loss to a team that’s existed for less than 2 decades. Next up - Barcelona and the greatest player to never score against Chelsea. Hopefully they’ll put in a better performance than they had against Manchester United to drag Chelsea kicking and screaming into a semblance of match fitness.

jb x