Few clubs have a stronger French connection
Did you know that the Chelsea goalkeepers coach is French: Christophe Lollichon. He`s like Petr Cech`s big brother and has worked with him since 2002, apart from three years off from 2004-7.
Other than Zouma and Remy, 12 other French players – some of the best in the business – have played for Chelsea: Anelka, Charvet, Desailly, Deschamps, Diarra, Gallas, Kakuta, Lambourde, Leboeuf, Makalele, Malouda, Petit.
But when it comes to French teams beating us – no worries.
The guvnor hasn`t been beat in 15 out of 16 games against French opposition. The only game he lost was in Paris in the Champions League (CL) last year.
I know you remember that Chelsea beat PSG on away goals in last year`s quarter finals – but did you remember that Chelsea also beat the Parisians in the group stage in 2004 by 3-0?
The last player from a French team to score a goal at the Bridge? Fernando Morientes of Monaco that fateful Wednesday night in May 2004 when Chelsea drew 2-2 – after losing 3-1 on the Riviera – and crashed out at the CL semi-final stage.
The manager of the Porto team Monaco were to meet in the final – one José Mourinho – was watching Claudio Ranieri`s Chelsea from the stands that night (so was I).
Rumour already had it that Mourinho was the new Chelsea manager-elect. He just had the small matter of guiding Porto past Chelsea`s conquerors in the CL final in Gelsenkirchen.
Along with Porto and Real Madrid the Blues are the only unbeatens in the CL this year. It`s the 11th time out of 12 they`ve reached the knockout stage of the competition.
In the six games Chelsea have played against French teams at the Bridge, no French team has ever beaten us – in five of those six they didn’t even manage a goal.
Not much chance of a 0-0 tomorrow night: we haven`t failed to score in the last 18 CL home games. Though at the Parc des Princes in the first leg we only had two shots on target. One was Branna`s goal in the 36th minute.
PSG have won eight out of their last nine CL games. The only one they lost was against Chelsea.
And compare Drogba and Cavani`s records: five of Cavani`s six games in the CL were against Chelsea. He’s played Chelsea with PSG of course, and with Napoli. He`s yet to go through against us.
Didier Drogba, on the other hand, has scored five times in six games against PSG – for Chelsea, Guingamp and Olympique Marseilles.
Finally, a word to FIFA. No player has been fouled more times in the CL than Hazard (28). Almost a third of those (9) were in the first leg against PSG.
Written by Stan Wenners
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