Chelsea exiting the Champions League shows why a winter break must be introduced

Early exit: A dejected Diego Costa leaves the pitch after Chelsea’s match against PSG Photo: REX FEATURES

Broadcasters may oppose the idea but it would allow players to recharge their minds as well as bodies.

Even after they were knocked out, Chelsea’s European embarrassment continued on Wednesday night when five police officers had to rush to help a Paris Saint-Germain supporter being menaced by a Chelsea fan at Fulham Broadway Tube station at 11.45pm.

Fortunately, the tall, black Frenchman emerged unscathed, being just shocked by the vitriol and threat of violence suddenly launched his way as he walked, then sprinted through the vestibule. Events on the Paris Metro before the first leg, when a black commuter was prevented from entering a carriage by Chelsea followers, has been a stain on the club, and the brief ugly scene at Fulham Broadway shows that some fans are not listening to their club’s pleas for tolerance.

It was a pity for Chelsea, who have handled the post-Metro fall-out as adroitly as possible, but they sadly inhabit a society partly populated by a small-minded poisonous breed with no respect for others. The majority of Chelsea fans, it needs emphasising, united to put on a show promoting “equality” at the Bridge.

Ultimately, their Champions League season ended with them unbeaten and unloved. Even their fans, talking on the Tube after witnessing the fracas upstairs, confessed that their players, and Jose Mourinho with his negative tactics, got what they deserved. Nothing.

Chelsea have been criticised for their behaviour against PSG on Wednesday (GETTY IMAGES

In the maelstrom following the lowering of the blue flag in Europe it also needs acknowledging that PSG, a far more vibrant force, were far worthier of a place in the last eight. Marco Verratti embodied all the dynamism lacking in Chelsea’s centre. David Luiz and Thiago Silva largely defended well, with Silva in particular winning 77% of his duels, and both scored. PSG left the Bridge talking of the club finally coming of age in Europe. Whatever happens next, they’ll always have London.

Amidst all the praise for Laurent Blanc and his players, and especially their response to losing Zlatan Ibrahimovic to a red card so unjust it was blushing, it also needs remembering that this inquest would not be going on if Chelsea had just defended two set-plays better. It was unlike Thibaut Courtois to misjudge his movement from his line. It was rare to see Gary Cahill and John Terry beaten aerially. The footage of Cahill and Terry being so inculcated in the art of grappling that they even got to grips with each other has triggered much schadenfreude outside the Bridge. PSG pulled some stunts, especially Luiz, but the main chicanery came cloaked in blue livery.

Chelsea’s departure sluices more fuel on to the bonfire of the English vanities again burning in Europe. Eight of the last 20 Champions League finalists, stretching back to Istanbul, have been Premier League representatives but the rate is slowing at an alarming rate. Only two English teams have reached Uefa’s show-piece showdown in the past five seasons. Barring a miracle by the Med, no English team will grace even the quarter-finals.

source:telegraph.co.uk