Why Attack Will Be PSG's Best Form of Defence vs. Chelsea

In war, they always say that the best defence is a good offence, and when it comes to Paris Saint-Germain's UEFA Champions League last-16 second leg against Chelsea on Wednesday, it could be Laurent Blanc's best weapon against the English side.

On Saturday, during PSG’s 0-0 draw with Montpellier, Maxwell was the only member of their expected back four who started the game—with Kevin Trapp, Adrien Rabiot and the front three being the others vying for a place in the starting XI.

It was clear that Blanc’s mind was already on Wednesday’s fixture, even his post-game comments after dropping points pointed towards a positive result:

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Blanc told the official PSG website:

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Despite the score, there are positives tonight. The match went as we'd planned, we rested players and made changes when we'd planned. The squad responded well and we can be happy not to have any new injuries ahead of the Chelsea match. We still needed to put out a competitive side, even if there were a lot of young players out on the pitch. Montpellier came looking to play and they got their point. Good for them. On Sunday, we turn our attentions to the Chelsea match. Everyone is waiting for that game. We will do what we can to prepare for a big game on Wednesday.

"

For the first 20 minutes of the first leg, PSG took the game to Chelsea, playing some of their best football of the season. Chelsea held off the first wave of attacks and conceded the opening goal via a deflected Zlatan Ibrahimovic free-kick somewhat against the run of play.

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However, when the away side pressured the PSG back line, there were signs of cracks. Both David Luiz and Thiago Silva didn’t cover themselves in glory with some of their defending. Also, 34-year-old veteran Maxwell was left to look his age, something that rarely happens in Ligue 1 fixtures.

With John Terry likely missing from the heart of the Chelsea defence, the best way for PSG to take the pressure off their own back line is to take the game to the home side.

Blanc has hinted both Blaise Matuidi and Marco Verratti could miss the fixture—although both have been named in the travelling squad—and that takes away a huge chunk of PSG’s creative options. It will put more emphasis on the attack to get the ball into the final third, especially with the form of Angel Di Maria to push and pull the Chelsea defence around the pitch.

Two years ago, when PSG were knocked out of the Champions League at the same stage on goal difference, the Parisians sat far too deep towards the end of the game and invited pressure onto their own penalty area.

Chelsea scored twice in the second half, and Blanc was left to rue his defensive tactics. To stop that from happening again, they need to keep a high line and do their best to keep a high line.

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The experience of Thiago Motta will be crucial. The Italy international will be in charge of keeping the team’s position from deviating. Without Verratti to keep the tempo moving and Matuidi’s lung-bursting runs to spread the play, his ability to plug that gap between the defence and midfield will be vital to Blanc’s team finding success.

Ibrahimovic will have to step up his game once again, dropping into the midfield to add some creativity—which could mean that Edinson Cavani finds a way into the XI to take up the central areas once the Swede gets on the ball.

It worked against AS Saint-Etienne in the cup, and with Chelsea’s defence far from at 100 percent, it could happen again. The only way PSG will find out is if they go on the attack, and that has to be their best form of defence on Wednesday night.