Chelsea vs. PSG: Lessons Learned from International Champions Cup
Chelsea overcame Paris Saint-Germain on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the International Champions Cup on Saturday. Thibaut Courtois came close to ripping the net off with the winning penalty in a 6-5 shootout victory.
PSG took the lead in the first half through Zlatan Ibrahimovic and dominated for long spells, but Chelsea found their feet in the second half and eventually equalised via Victor Moses. Both goalkeepers were called into action late to keep things level. Both sides hit the post and could only be separated by spot-kicks after 90 minutes.
Both managers were impressed with the stadium and the atmosphere, which lent to a competitive match well beyond the usual intensity of a pre-season match. "Maybe when we can't play in Stamford Bridge [during redevelopment], we can come over here and play in the Premier League," Jose Mourinho joked in the post-match press conference, per Kyle Bonn of NBC Sports.
Bleacher Report takes a look at lessons learned from the fixture.
Chelsea Lack Sharpness
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Contrast Chelsea's performance on Saturday night to Arsenal's in the Emirates Cup hours before it and you see a stark difference: These two sides are at different points in their preparations for the season ahead.
The Blues looked extremely stodgy against Paris Saint-Germain, and, bar a good 10-minute period at the start of the first half, were generally second-best until Willian entered the fray late on. Meanwhile, Arsenal are fresh off a 6-0 victory over Lyon as their XI began to click once again.
Pre-season is no place to be projecting sides' fortunes for the forthcoming season, but the London rivals meet on August 2 for the 2015 Community Shield—the campaign's first available piece of silverware. You can bet both Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho want to get their hands on it, but the former looks far better prepared than the latter as it stands.
Gregory van der Wiel Playing His Way Back into Favour?
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Gregory van der Wiel was politely placed on the transfer list this summer—by that, we mean Paris Saint-Germain weren't fussed if he were to take his leave and indeed offered him to Manchester United if Jamie Sanderson's Metro report is to be believed.
He's not the world's most defensively able full-back, and perhaps he hasn't taken that "next step" expected of him, but PSG could do a lot worse than keep him around for another season, and it appears as though the player is eager to make that option a reality.
Van der Wiel has been in fine form this pre-season and played another useful attacking game on Saturday. His speed, low crossing and connection with Ibrahimovic are major plus points for Laurent Blanc.
Victor Moses Reminds the World He's Still Here
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Victor Moses is, somehow, still on Chelsea's books. Since signing with them in 2012, he's barely played, taking in loans at Liverpool (failed) and Stoke City (roaring success) in the last two seasons.
He doesn't really stand a chance of figuring for Jose Mourinho's team in 2015-16, but he can use this pre-season period to remind other clubs of his talents. His first 45 minutes here were very forgettable, but in the second half, he perked up and converted the Blues' only goal of the game by tapping home Cesc Fabregas' audacious, world-class pass.
He can still be of great use to a strong Premier League club as a winger; will someone take a punt on the Nigerian?
Jean-Kevin Augustin
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Jean-Kevin Augustin has been the revelation of Paris Saint-Germain's pre-season tour, stepping into an important role and really seizing his chance alongside the established senior players.
The young Frenchman, who caught B/R's eye during last season's UEFA Youth League competition, has chosen the perfect time to impress, as PSG's striking situation is shrouded in mystery when projecting two or three years down the line.
It is widely expected to be Ibrahimovic's last season in Paris as a player, and Edinson Cavani is dogged by transfer speculation every summer without fail. If a slot ever opens up in this PSG setup, it's going to be in the next 12 months, and Augustin has done himself no harm at all by impressing in the U.S.
A neat, confident finisher with excellent ball control and remarkable pace, he'd suit PSG's current midfield selection perfectly and really thrive on Marco Verratti and Blaise Matuidi's service if he's given a chance in competitive fixtures.
Willian > Juan Cuadrado
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There was great symbolism in the penalty shootout as far as Chelsea's wingers are concerned; where Willian confidently stabbed his effort into the corner past a helpless Salvatore Sirigu, Juan Cuadrado's nervous, poor effort was comfortably saved.
That serves as a marker for where the Blues' winger battle is right now, with Willian streets ahead of his Colombian team-mate in the race to play opposite Eden Hazard when the season proper rolls around.
Willian was an impactful second-half substitute, showing his worth by knitting together some excellent attacks, whereas Cuadrado's most notable moment was getting behind the PSG defence only to chicken out of shooting, cut back inside and lose all the momentum.
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