Jose Mourinho wary of foul play from PSG

Jose Mourinho highlighted PSG physicality. Picture: Getty

The Blues boss was frustrated at PSG’s persistent fouling in the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie three weeks ago, which was drawn 1-1.

Mourinho believes the expensively-assembled French side were more aggressive than League Two Shrewsbury, League One Bradford and all the other sides Chelsea have played this term.

“With players of such quality I was expecting more football and less aggression,” he said ahead of tonight’s second leg. “I thought an English team would never be surprised by aggression. In that game I was surprised, because a team with fantastic players was a team with the record of fouls, was the team that was making foul after foul, was the team that stopped [Eden] Hazard with fouls all the time.”

PSG were on top for much of the first leg at Parc des Princes, but Chelsea emerged level with Branislav Ivanovic’s crucial away goal. Mourinho bristled when asked about PSG’s dominance.

He said: “What is dominate? If dominate is the number of chances, yes, Paris had more chances than us.

“If dominate is to stop the opponent to play, making foul after foul, yes they also dominate.

“If dominate is to have the ball and to move the ball without progression, yes, they also dominate. I think they dominate in everything except in the result.”

Chelsea had to win last season’s quarter-final tie against PSG after a 3-1 first-leg deficit and prevailed on away goals when Demba Ba netted a last-gasp goal for a 2-0 home win.

Now the Blues are seeking to advance to the last eight and progress at the French side’s expense once more, with Mourinho insisting victory is the target.

“Losing 3-1 you are on the limit of the risk. We knew that if we concede one goal, you are in big trouble,” he added.

“We knew that we had to score a minimum of two. Tomorrow [Wednesday] is different. The result has a complete balance, but we are going to try to win.”

Mourinho refused to comment on PSG counterpart Laurent Blanc’s appraisal of Diego Costa, the striker who the Frenchman said will provoke the visitors. “I don’t want to comment on his words. His words are his words,” Mourinho said.

Chelsea have already won one trophy this season when they beat Tottenham in the Capital One Cup final. Mourinho believes that success – his first of his second spell at Stamford Bridge – means nothing with regard to the Champions League.

“The League Cup doesn’t change [anything],” Mourinho added. “The game tomorrow is important. If you lose, the competition finishes.”