Filip Jorgensen sat in his six-yard box with his head in his hands and the Parc des Princes big screen did not cut the camera to the scorer of Paris Saint-Germain’s third goal, Vitinha, but rather zoomed in on Chelsea’s gutted goalkeeper.
The reason was Jorgensen had just committed the evening’s big error. He had been taking risks while trying to pass from the back and this time, the ball was intercepted by the ferocious PSG press via Bradley Barcola. Seconds later, Vitinha was lobbing Jorgensen for 3-2.
Liam Rosenior is bold, we will give him that, but there is a fine line between bravery and, well, copying what Tottenham Hotspur did to themselves in this very competition on Tuesday night.
Managing his first ever Champions League knockout tie, Rosenior replaced his experienced goalkeeper in Robert Sanchez with a younger model, and the 23-year-old made a mistake, which cost Chelsea dearly at the Parc des Princes. It was only made worse when Khvicha Kvaratskheila added in PSG’s fourth and fifth goals thereafter with Jorgensen having lost all confidence. That last one conceded was particularly poor, and Sanchez might have saved it.
It was a shame for the visitors in a way because, in truth, their approach to this first leg was impressive. Rosenior brought Chelsea to the home of the Champions League holders and played like a big club. It was not safety-first football. It was not the second leg of the Carabao Cup at Arsenal. It was not with the aim of stifling PSG or robbing a result. It was exciting and largely effective until Jorgensen misplaced that pass.
Everyone knew Jorgensen would start from early on in the day. While Chelsea insiders insist they are not upset, the club may wish to ask around internally as to why, eight hours before kick-off, a French journalist revealed their starting line-up on social media. He nailed it, including Jorgensen.
Liam Rosenior was bold with his selection but Chelsea were punished in Paris, despite often being on the front foot
A mistake by Filip Jorgensen called into question Rosenior’s decision to drop Robert Sanchez
This is football, it happens, one source said. However, Rosenior is a head coach who heavily guards his line-ups. Whereas Enzo Maresca never had any qualms in telling us who he would be using in goal, for example, Rosenior refuses to give so much as a hint.
His selection was reminiscent of the summer’s Club World Cup final where Malo Gusto’s role was underrated, his width down the right-hand side allowing Cole Palmer to move inside. That match also involved Reece James in midfield next to Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez as a No 10, Pedro Neto on the left wing, and Joao Pedro up top.
Rosenior copied and pasted here by using that precise set-up in the hope of upsetting the champions of Europe. In the PSG club shop, they sell caps with ‘31 Mai 2025’ plastered on the front, a nod to the night they won the Champions League. They are a technically talented side, but even Luis Enrique does not mind borrowing the odd play from rugby, with Vitinha kicking the ball into touch directly from kick-off to force Chelsea into the corner.
PSG may have been buoyed by the sight of Jorgensen’s early jitters as, within minutes, he gifted possession away as Joao Neves forced the goalkeeper into a save from 30 yards.
When PSG took the lead after 10 minutes, it would be wrong to assume Jorgensen was guilty. Rather, it was his defenders who did not do their jobs. Ousmane Dembele’s cross found Neves, who nodded down for Barcola to blast the ball in off the underside of the crossbar.
It was passive from Chelsea, who allowed PSG’s players more than they should have had, and not least the unmarked Barcola. Jorgensen was required to push a Dembele strike on to the post thereafter, though Chelsea did seem to settle down with chances falling to Pedro Neto and Joao Pedro as their brave approach began to take hold.
Eventually, they equalised for 1-1, and this time, it was PSG who forgot to do their marking. Enzo Fernandez fired the ball diagonally to Malo Gusto. Barcola, his former Lyon team-mate, had forgotten to track his run and left back Nuno Mendes was nowhere to be seen. Gusto’s shot squirmed under Matvei Safonov.
Gone are the days when right backs would get nosebleeds if they found themselves so high up the pitch. Gusto was a regular in the PSG half throughout – under instructions from Rosenior with his brave set-up.
PSG were prolific and capitalised on Chelsea’s weaknesses to claim a 5-2 victory
Just as Chelsea were enjoying some control, Palmer struck a shot at Safonov at one end and PSG scored 14 seconds later at the other. It was a lightning counter-attack, though Chelsea again did not help themselves defensively with Wesley Fofana being twisted and turned by Dembele.
Chelsea were competing in their 110th game since the start of last season and PSG in their 106th, yet this was a breathless clash, evidenced in the 57th minute when Neto sprinted down the left wing before cutting back for Fernandez to make it 2-2.
However, then came the big mistake from Jorgensen, as Barcola intercepted and Vitinha scored, before Kvaratskheila added their fourth and fifth. Chelsea players let out their frustrations towards full-time with Pedro Neto sparking a melee after shoving a ballboy.
