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Chelsea Manager’s Decision May Cost The Blues

 

A miserable night for Chelsea  goalkeeper Petr Cech ended with a nightmare finish, beaten by Javier Pastore in the last seconds to give PSG a huge advantage going into next Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg in London.

Another mistake by John Terry, brutally punished by Ezequiel Lavezzi, and an unfortunate moment for David Luiz sent on their way to defeat in the Parc des Princes, they appeared to have something valuable in their hand luggage for the journey home.

But while Eden Hazard’s first half penalty, calmly stroked home after Willian and Oscar combined to cause defensive panic, could yet prove decisive at Stamford Bridge, it will take something special now. Mourinho’s tactical call was probably as ineffective as when it was tried at Manchester United back in the late summer and Torres did not seem entirely fussed when he eventually came on, either.

Yet with the Blues seemed to have showed steel and resolve to feel favourites, before Pastore cashed in on Cech’s error to change everything.

The axeing of Torres was the headline story and the ramifications are sure to rumble on but Mourinho always knew his game-plan.