Champions League: ‘PSG similar to Chelsea’

PSG v CHELSEA

Jose Mourinho said PSG are following the Chelsea model as he went on the charm offensive ahead of tonight’s Champions League showdown in France.

In contrast to last week, when Mourinho upset PSG boss Laurent Blanc by saying it was easy to win Ligue 1, it was all pleasantries this time around.

And with Qatari owners pumping money into the PSG revolution, Mourinho said their progress had echoes of when Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich started splashing the cash just over a decade ago.

“You can find similarities,” said Mourinho in his pre-match press conference.

“When Mr Abramovich bought the club he was ready and keen and the football rules were open to that, so the investment was important.

“Ours was probably the most important investment in that period and as a consequence of that Chelsea built year after year some of the best teams in European football.

“Paris is doing the same, some people don’t understand very well how it will look with Financial Fair Play, but the reality is that in the last two years the investment was massive, that the choice of players was fantastic.

“Leonardo (former sporting director) started here a fantastic period of spending money but buying the right players. At this moment, the team is full of really good players, the passion in the city is also good and the Parc des Princes is a beautiful place to play.

“It’s a team full of fantastic strikers and goalscorers and that is what really makes the difference in this level.

“Now they are dominant in France the same way Chelsea was chasing season after season the Champions League, reaching semi-finals and finals. They are doing the same and they want to win.”

Meanwhile, Blanc says his side’s display tonight will answer Mourinho’s doubts about the French league.

“If I remember correctly, I think it was the same for him in Spain, with Barcelona and Madrid.” n