Chelsea huddled once and, as if in an act of resistance, huddled again. They gathered once on either side of the centre circle before kick-off, apparently unconcerned by the kerfuffle that followed their weekend antics, and it was the biggest fight they put up on a night that underlined their distance from Europe’s elite.
Can anyone say, with hand on heart, that this project is going well? Any sense they could overturn a three-goal disadvantage was nipped in the bud by two quick Paris Saint-Germain goals and, by the time Senny Mayulu had added the third, there was little mistaking how some of the home fans felt about the early trajectory of Liam Rosenior’s tenure.
In fairness, Rosenior cannot call on players with the sheer presence and brio of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia or Bradley Barcola, whose interventions in the opening quarter of an hour killed the tie. He also cannot bargain for a litany of injuries and Trevoh Chalobah departing on a stretcher five minutes from the end compounded a bleak night. Rosenior has two months to make a success of the season but, on and off the pitch, Chelsea must project themselves far more strongly than this.
Even if the size of the deficit appeared daunting this was a chance for Chelsea to make their supporters feel something, anything. They have barely done so in the BlueCo era but could attempt to channel the muscle memory of a 3-0 win against the same opponents in the Club World Cup final. Perhaps Stamford Bridge, encouraging if not overly expectant at the outset, might also harness the spirit of the night almost 14 years ago to the day when Napoli were overhauled spectacularly en route to Champions League glory.
