CHELSEA have got work to do if they want to qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals after being hit for FIVE goals by PSG in Paris.
The Parisians got off to a blistering start, with heaps of players up the pitch as Bradley Barcola fired home into the roof of the net.
Barcola, though, was ball watching, and Chelsea countered nicely with Malo Gusto able to squeeze a volley under the palms of Safonov to get Chelsea level.
Cole Palmer looked destined to put the Blues a goal to the good, forcing the Russian stopper into a fine save inside the box, but PSG then sprung a 14-SECOND counterattack on the Blues with the pace and prowess of Ousmane Dembele.
The Frenchman twisted up Wesley Fofana before finding the bottom corner.
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Chelsea got back in the game through Enzo Fernandez and went in search of more, but were brutally put down by their own goalkeeping mistakes and the brilliance of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
It was Vitinha who capitalised on a Filip Jorgensen error first, before the Georgian winger stole the show from the bench for PSG.
This is how SunSport Chelsea Reporter Lloyd Canfield rated the Blues…
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FILIP JORGENSEN – 1
It was a big call from Liam Rosenior to keep Jorgensen in the net after dropping Robert Sanchez against Aston Villa, and not one that paid off this time.
Robert Sanchez was excellent against PSG in the Club World Cup final, and would’ve felt he could do better than Jorgensen did tonight.
The Danish keeper was composed on the ball and made a vital save in the first half, but it all came undone in the second half when his ‘Kinsky moment’ came and he gifted the ball to Barcola for PSG’s third.
It was almost ‘Kinsky again ole, ole’ at the death as he passed the ball into PSG’s path again, but was let off by the offside flag.
MALO GUSTO – 8
Made a brilliant sneaky run to score the equaliser for Chelsea, in what was his first-ever Champions League goal.
The volley was nothing net-busting, but he did enough to trouble Safanov and find the back of the net
WESLEY FOFANA – 3
Cooked by Ousmane Dembele for the second PSG goal and was on the scene of the Parisian opener as the ball deflected off of him and into the roof of the net.
The pace of the host’s attack seemed too much for him, and he looked a little out of his depth, truth be told.
Made some decent blocks and tackles under a lot of pressure, but overall underwhelming despite improvements in the second half.
TREVOH CHALOBAH – 4
Launched wildly out of position to try and win the ball back for PSG’s second goal, similarly to how he did earlier in the season against Brentford, and left Ousmane Demebele 1v1 against Wesley Fofana.
Not the finest game from the Chelsea defender, who was run pretty ragged by PSG’s fierce attack.
MARC CUCURELLA – 5
A solid performance from the Spaniard.
Not his best showing as Chelsea pushed to get back in the game towards the end, and he was caught out of position as PSG hit their fifth of the game.
REECE JAMES – 7
It felt like Reece James played everywhere in this game at some point, centre-back, right back, central midfield – he was everywhere.
Excellent on the ball, he played as though there were two of him out there and worked his socks off throughout, starting attacks at one end and stopping them at the other.
Gave the ball away on a few occasions, but made up for it with his all round play.
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MOISES CAICEDO – 5
Not quite up to his usual standards tonight, with a few mistimed tackles, he was also caught out of position for the PSG second goal, alongside Trevoh Chalobah.
Was outshone in midfield by Reece James despite some good tackles
ENZO FERNANDEZ – 9
He steps up in the big moments.
He was on it tonight in terms of his passing, and played a brilliant ball into Malo Gusto in acres of space for the Chelsea equaliser in the first half.
His goal for Chelsea’s second was a really well-timed run, and his finish was perfect too.
COLE PALMER – 6
Had a huge chance to put Chelsea 2-1 up, but was denied by Safonov in the PSG goal before Dembele showed him how it’s done at the other end moments later.
He was a threat down the right-hand side throughout, but wasn’t able to quite add the end product to what was a decent performance.
PEDRO NETO – 8
Was a constant threat for Chelsea on the left wing, and his hard work paid off in the second half with a brilliant interception and assist for Enzo Fernandez.
Had a decent half-chance early on where he unselfishly squared the ball for Cole Palmer, but it was cut out by Nuno Mendes.
JOAO PEDRO – 7
The man of the moment for Chelsea, Joao Pedro, was excellent at holding the ball up in this game and looked really dangerous.
Dropped into midfield and linked up so well with his teammates, but faded in the second half as the game went on.
Thought he got his moment near the end as he finished with aplomb past Safonov, only for the linesman to raise his flag and rule it out.
SUBS:
LIAM DELAP (JOAO PEDRO)
Made little to no impact after replacing Joao Pedro.
ROMEO LAVIA (COLE PALMER)
Couldn’t establish a place in the game, really, after coming on in midfield.
ALEJANDRO GARNACHO (MALO GUSTO)
PSG were all over Chelsea when he came on, and he had little time to affect the game as it drew to a close.