Jose Mourinho explains why Chelsea lost to PSG

• Posted on March 12, 2015
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho said his side could not cope mentally during their last-16 Champions League exit to 10-man Paris St-Germain.

The French champions twice came from behind at Stamford Bridge to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

“Our performance was not good enough,” said Mourinho. “The opponent was stronger than us, they coped better with the pressure of the game.

“We tried to win but the moment they had 10 men we felt too much pressure.”

He added: “Paris St-Germain deserved it. When a team can’t defend two corners and concedes two goals to corners they don’t deserve to win.”

The visitors played the last hour of normal time and 30 minutes of extra-time without striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic after he was sent off for a foul on Oscar.

But, following a 1-1 first-leg draw in Paris, Thiago Silva’s extra-time header saw them through on the away goals rule as they gained revenge for last season’s quarter-final exit at the hands of Chelsea.

“They have a reason to celebrate and I told my players it is not after a bad match that I kick tables and doors, it is time to be calm and analyse as a team,” Mourinho told Sky Sports.

“They were aggressive, what we used to call ‘clever’ on the continent. In England, that is not accepted as clever.

“They did what they did, after the second goal there was no more game. Simulation of injuries, they stopped the game completely.

“It is the beauty of English football but in continental football the other teams are more prepared to cope with the mental side. I wouldn’t say ‘dirty’, but the other side.”

Chelsea took the lead through Gary Cahill’s late half-volley but former defender David Luiz headed home to send the tie into extra time.

Eden Hazard’s penalty following Thiago Silva’s handball looked to be sending the hosts through but the Brazilian made amends with a header six minutes from time

“We need to react. We have a Premier League to win. I told that to the players,” added Mourinho, who led the Blues to the League Cup earlier this month.

“It is not a time to cry, and also not a time to laugh. It is time to analyse the situation.

“If we win the Premier League and the Capital One Cup it will still be a fantastic season.”

-BBC