Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink and goal stopper Thibaut Courtois took part on Monday’s press conference to talk about their third meeting inside the last three years against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League knock-out stage.
John Terry, who didn’t take off to the French capital with the rest of the squad due to a minor hamstring injury, is a big blow for the Chelsea squad who are about to face the Ligue 1 holders tomorrow.
Hiddink though has belief in the players to replace the skipper, he tells the press:
He has a bit of a problem on his hamstring and on the tendon in that area. That’s why we had the test this morning and we decided he would not participate. It will be difficult to say whether he can play this weekend. That’s why we’d prefer him to keep undergoing treatment back at Cobham.
We’ve practised with other people in at central defence, so it was not a surprise for the players that we had to make some changes. Of course, not having John is a bit of a setback. He’s a leader. But I’m not the type of coach to moan and moan. We have to go on. The players who will replace him I have complete faith in them.
Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain have had an extremely tight history between the past years, as both of the earlier meetings have been decided by the away goals rule.
Currently Chelsea are far, far away from the league position that PSG are on their own table, as the Laurent Blanc’s side are completely dominant in the French league by leading the top-flight with 24 points.
The league didn’t start well for us this year, and we’ve had some recovery from December up to now, but we’re desperate to get into the next round of the Champions League.
It’s a big test for us to get into the next round and I hope we can do something to swing it to our advantage.
Chelsea’s number one goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is well aware of what it takes to make it to the Champions League final, as the Belgium international helped his former Atletico side to face Real Madrid on the last stage of the tournament in 2014, but stresses how winning the European title this season would be the only way to make it into the next season’s edition as well.
Winning the Champions League is a motivation in itself. We want to reach a final, when anything can happen. But there are a lot of top teams still in this, starting with PSG. We have to go step by step. Every player wants to win it, and we’ll try our best to win it.
The Champions League is different to the Premier League for us this year. We both have good players in our sides, so it should be tight. I’m sure it’ll be like the game here last year.
