Jose Mourinho believes his side will rise to the occasion when the Blues face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday.
The Blues surprisingly lost to Crystal Palace on Saturday, and Mourinho had questioned his players’ mentality, but the Portuguese is certain they will respond against the French champions on Wednesday.
“Paris is the kind of match they feel comfortable to play,” Mourinho said.
“A big match, great stadium, opponents with top quality.”
Mourinho also revealed he believes PSG have emerged as a leading continental force and stand a big chance to win the Champions League this year.
“They have some of the best players in the world playing together in the same team, so they are a very powerful team,” he added.
“They are big, big, big candidates.”
PSG have not lost at home in 28 European games and are currently on a club record-breaking run of nine straight wins in all competitions.
Following two draws, PSG were eliminated by Barcelona at the same stage last year, but their Argentine winger, Ezequiel Lavezzi, believes the French side are ‘superior’ to Chelsea and will progress this year.
"Chelsea are a big team, but it did not matter who we drew as we don't fear anybody," Lavezzi said.
"We have to respect Chelsea, of course, because they have a successful coach and very good players, but if you ask me who are the superior team, then I have to say PSG.”
PSG’s new owners have spent over £240m (R4.23 billion) over the past three years to build the squad around superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Lavezzi believes they can win the Champions league this year
"We have built one of the strongest teams in the world - and we feel that now this is our time.
"PSG has now arrived at a level where anything is possible.
“We are at a level where we attract the best players in the world, where we can beat any team in the world, and of course where we can win the Champions League."
PSG or Chelsea, who is your money on in this tie? Have your say in the comment section below.
