Jose
Mourinho praised his ‘phenomenal goalkeepers’ after Thibaut Courtois helped
Chelsea secure a 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain in their last-16
Champions League clash.
The Belgian justified his recall to the starting line-up in place of Petr
Cech by saving sharply from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Blaise Matuidi as Chelsea
secured a narrow advantage in the first leg of the tie.
“They are both phenomenal goalkeepers,” Chelsea manager Mourinho told Sky
Sports. "I try to read the situation and try to predict the profile of the
game and the needs of the team, but the reality is it is easy.
“If football was nine players and two goalkeepers we would be on the moon.”
Branislav Ivanovic gave Chelsea the lead in Paris but the hosts replied
through Edinson Cavani and looked the more likely to go on and win the
match.
Mourinho said it was a positive result for the Blues after acknowledging
they were on the back foot for much of the second half.
“Paris were stronger than us and we didn’t create or control the game as we
did in the first half,” he said. “In the first half we didn’t create a lot
but we had the ball and moved the ball well. In the second half we lost
control against a fantastic team with fantastic players.
“I give them credit and refuse to say my players were not good. Paris
pressed us a lot in the second half, they played very direct and they have a
monster (Ibrahimovic) who has qualities.
"He is not just a monster, he was dominating in the air, winning the first
ball, second ball, it was difficult for us. After such a difficult second
half the result is positive.”
Asked whether Chelsea are now favourites to progress to the quarter-finals,
Mourinho said: “I don’t think we are favourites. The Champions League,
knock-out, last-16, with top teams and top players and at 1-1 never creates
a clear favourite.
“It is a two-leg match but now it is a one-leg match. We have just a slight
advantage, maybe a mental advantage that we play at home and we don’t have
to play again in Paris.”
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