PSG VS CHELSEA AS SEEN BY MIKEL OBI

EXCLUSIVE

Before taking on mission impossible in Paris tonight, John Obi Mikel is planning to sit down and watch his favourite DVD.

The midfielder has lost count of the times he has replayed Chelsea’s shock 2012 Champions League triumph, when he collected the most prized of his 10 winners’ medals with the club.

But with Chelsea going into their last-16 tie against Paris St Germain minus injured first-choice centre-backs John Terry and Kurt Zouma, and the suspended Nemanja Matic, Mikel wants another reminder that miracles do happen.

It is easy to understand why. Not only are Chelsea weaker than when they were knocked out by the French champions on away goals at this stage last year, PSG have improved beyond belief

But Mikel told Standard Sport: “I watch the Champions League win sometimes and will try to do so again before the PSG game. Everyone has definitely written us off ahead of the tie and they are the favourites.Despite the rare slip, PSG are still 24 points clear of their nearest rivals in Ligue 1 and have not lost at the Parc des Princes since Barcelona got the better of them 10 months ago.Laurent Blanc’s men have lost just once this season and that was away to Real Madrid in the group stage.And although their 16-game winning streak ended with a 0-0 draw against Lille on Saturday it should be pointed out they rested several key players in preparation for this evening.

Clearly, the statistics are ominous for Chelsea. But no one gave them a chance four years ago when they beat Barcelona in the semi-finals and Bayern Munich in the final, on penalties, as they were crowned champions of Europe.

As was the case in 2012, winning the competition is Chelsea’s only hope of playing in it again next term.

“But when you achieve something like we did in 2012 you have to remind yourself. It inspires you, especially for nights like this.  It brings back amazing, amazing memories and I would love to win it again with Chelsea this season. Given our position in the Premier League, we know winning the Champions League is probably our last hope to qualify for it next season.

“It is a very difficult competition to win. I have played in it with Chelsea for 10 years. We always used to get to the semi-finals and quarter-finals before we finally won it. 

“It will be tough to repeat it but if we can get through this stage then we will see who we will get and anything can happen.”

The need to triumph in May to keep a seat at Europe’s top table is not the only parallel between Chelsea’s past and present. Just as in 2012, form has improved following a mid‑season change of manager.

Interim boss Guus Hiddink, who led the Blues to the semi-finals in a caretaker role in 2009, has masterminded a 12-game unbeaten run since replacing Jose Mourinho.

And Terry’s hamstring injury means Chelsea will have to reorganize their back four — something they also had to do in 2012 when their captain was sent off in the second leg of their semi-final in the Nou Camp and suspended for the final at Bayern’s Allianz Arena. 

Mikel said: “In 2012 we had a change of manager and then we started winning games. It is similar now. The same happened under Guus, too, in 2009 when we got to the semi-finals.

“The 2012 side had a lot of older, experienced players, who knew how to dig in, in matches when we were not playing particularly well and John wasn’t on the pitch. But two of that 2012 back four, Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic, are still with us and Thibaut Courtois is a top goalkeeper just as Petr Cech was for us back then.

“We are full of confidence, we know we can win this tie. Everyone expects PSG to beat us home and away but we will be very focused and look to give a good account of ourselves.”

Understandably, PSG are full of self-belief. Mikel’s bold words will hardly make much of an impression on their array of stars, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Angel Di Maria, Blaise Matuidi and, of course, former Chelsea team‑mate David Luiz. In contrast to Chelsea, the French side have had it easy since the teams drew 1-1 on a pre-season tour of the United States in July.

However, Mikel said: “That will help us. Every week we’ve had to battle while they have been running away with the championship in France.

“Their team is still full of internationals and players who have been in the Champions League every year.  I’m sure they will be able to switch from the French League to the Champions League. They will be very prepared. 

“They know how tough they had to work last season to go through against us and will be looking to make it very hard for us. Tonight is the big one. I am looking forward to it. The 5-1 win over Newcastle on Saturday was a good way to set us up for it. 

“PSG are building something special but we haven’t lost in 12 matches and are building something special here, too.” 

Should Chelsea bring about PSG’s downfall, Mikel will surely add a recording of it to his collection to enjoy time and time again.