Stamford Bridge was alive with anticipation as the Champions League anthem played and flamethrowers lit the sky, but the optimism lasted only five minutes. PSG dismantled Chelsea 3-0, leaving the Blues 7-2 down on aggregate and their manager Liam Rosenior under intense pressure.
The debacle began when Mamadou Sarr's miscontrol gifted Khvicha Kvaratskhelia a first-time finish past Robert Sanchez. Moises Caicedo's hesitation then led to a second goal, as Bradley Barcola curled a stunning strike into the top corner. The night was effectively over before the first half was done.
Rosenior, who had written in his programme notes about responding to mistakes, saw his team fail to do so. His side have now lost three matches in seven days, winning only two of their last seven games. The manner of defeat, with PSG cutting through Chelsea's soft centre, has drawn criticism from pundits including Jamie Carragher and Thierry Henry.
Rosenior's selection decisions have been questioned—starting Filip Jorgensen in the first leg and handing 20-year-old Sarr his Champions League debut on such a night. Off-field distractions, including line-up leaks and odd press conference moments, have added to the sense of an inexperienced manager struggling to assert authority. 'I'm learning all the time,' Rosenior admitted after the match, but Chelsea fans are asking if he is the right man for the job.
