The west London club travel to the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night for the first leg of their Uefa Champions League clash with the Ligue 1 champions and this is the starting XI we expect Blues head coach Jose Mourinho to go with in the French capital ….
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GK: Petr Cech
It has been yet another near-faultless campaign between the posts for the imposing and experienced Czech Republic international, but he is sure to be in for a busy night trying to keep out the big-spending Parisians’ front men on Wednesday evening.
RB: Branislav Ivanovic
Do not expect the powerful Serb to make too many rampaging runs down the west Londoners’ right flank in this last-eight first leg, with the full back more likely to concentrate of helping to keep the home team’s attackers at bay.
CB: Gary Cahill
The dependable England international has been a rock-solid presence at the heart of the Blues’ midfield throughout this campaign, although it will be interesting to see just how he copes at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.
CB: John Terry
The Blues skipper is another player who has been at the very top of his game throughout this campaign, which is good for the visitors as they travel to the French capital this week for what will be another tough examination of their normally mean defence.
LB: Cesar Azpilicueta
The new Spain international right back has barely put a foot out of place all season long as cover for Ashley Cole, and this despite being asked to feature in an unfamiliar left-back role.
CM: Ramires
The all-action Brazil international will be expected to do a lot of running against the Ligue 1 champions at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night both in a defensive capacity, as well as on the rare occasions that the visitors may look to catch PSG on the counterattack.
CM: David Luiz
Expect the wily Special One to ask his versatile Brazilian centre back to line up alongside his compatriot Ramires as a holding midfielder in front of his back four, with the shaggy-haired player set to be asked to help put out as many fires as possible against the Parisians.
AM: Oscar
The Brazil playmaker was rested for the club’s shock 1-0 loss at struggling Crystal Palace on the weekend so he could be fit and raring to go for this particular encounter, so expect the youngster to be one of the visitors’ more energetic and better performers in the French capital.
FW: Eden Hazard
The Belgium international makes a return to the country where he made his name while with Ligue 1 outfit Lille, and you can be sure hat the brilliant left-sided forward will be eager to make his mark on the mega-rich French champions on Wednesday.
ST: Fernando Torres
The Spaniard will lead the line as Chelsea’s only out-and-out striker in the absence of the injured Samuel Eto’o, although Mourinho will be hoping that the club’s record signing is more potent than he was at Palace on Saturday afternoon.
FW: Willian
Another who did not start in the loss at Selhurst Park in order to be fresh for the trip to the Parc des Princes, with the Brazil international set to feature as part of a three-man attack on the right-hand side of Torres.