Chelsea
are happy to draw Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League knockout
stages once again, says club secretary David Barnard.
Chelsea will face PSG in the round of 16 next year having only beaten them
on the away goals rule in the quarter-finals last season.
Again they have been drawn to play the first leg in Paris, sparking memories
for Chelsea fans of a dramatic late goal in the return leg at Stamford
Bridge in their 2013/14 contest.
Chelsea lost 3-1 in Paris in the first leg of the quarter-final stage before
winning 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in April to go through on the away goals
rule, thanks to a Demba Ba goal three minutes from time.
Blues official Barnard said they were happy to be picked out to face the
French side for a second successive year, with the first leg due to be
played on February 17, and the return match on March 11.
"No matter who we were going to draw, before the draw was made they were all
there by merit, PSG are no exception," he said.
The French Ligue 1 champions for the past two years paid £50million to sign
Chelsea defender David Luiz in the summer and have the likes of Zlatan
Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi in their squad
Barnard added: "Obviously PSG are known to us because we played them in the
quarter-finals last year and they've got the added ingredient of David Luiz
playing for them and obviously David is fondly remembered by our supporters
for the Champions League final.
"I know that Jose said before the draw that he would like to see PSG for our
supporters because of the travel arrangements and the logistics, and he was
right.
"I think both teams now have totally different teams to last year and it's a
one-off situation, like we know in knockout. I think we've got an advantage
by being away first, at least we know what we will have to do for the second
leg so from our point of view, whether it was PSG or whoever it was, it
would still be the same situation."
Barnard did not think Chelsea would have a psychological advantage because
of the way the Blues came back last year from 3-1 down to go through on away
goals.
"That's basically in the past," he said. "Each match that comes along is a
totally different scenario and parameters, so we'll be taking it right from
the start really.
"We've got to keep our feet on the ground and take each competition as it
comes along and deal with it as and when we play those games."
Revenge
PSG sporting director Olivier Letang, however, said the French club will
have a clear motive for the clash - getting revenge on Chelsea.
“We know it will be a difficult game like last season but we will do
everything we can to be ready for the two games against Chelsea," he said.
"We want to be well prepared and ready for the two legs against Chelsea. We
know that Chelsea is a very good team.
“The goal of the club is very clear. We want to go as far as possible in
this competition. We hope we will have revenge on Chelsea for last season.
“I think that David (Luiz) will enjoy playing once again at Stamford Bridge
but what is important is that PSG win."
Chelsea travel to PSG for the first leg on February 17, with the return leg
on March 11.
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