In L’Équipe, Bixente Lizarazu, 56, a former left-back who notably played for Bayern Munich, praised Paris Saint-Germain’s control of the second leg against Chelsea. But beyond the accolades for a successful second leg, the pundit also pointed out that this test is not yet enough to dispel all doubts about the rest of the Champions League campaign.
Lizarazu: “First and foremost, I want to acknowledge PSG’s great achievement in shutting down Chelsea right from the start.”
“Were you more impressed by PSG’s performance or more appalled by Chelsea’s weakness in this second leg?
There’s always a bit of both, of course. But first and foremost, I want to acknowledge PSG’s great achievement in shutting down Chelsea right from the start and, above all, in playing a complete match. There was technical mastery, with impressive spells of possession that were agonizing for the opposition, very effective pressing, and consistent performance.
This time, unlike the first leg, where the game turned in the 74th minute with a mistake by the Blues’ goalkeeper (then Filip Jörgensen), Paris was superior from start to finish and never wavered. There was even a sense of surrender from the Londoners, too early in this second leg.
Lizarazu: “The opposition was…” “far from the highest European level”
You highlighted PSG’s significant defensive shortcomings in the first leg. Does the solidity displayed this time around fully reassure you for the rest of the competition?
“Let’s take it one step at a time (smiles)! The opposition was far from the highest European level, so we need to remain cautious. But we can also see a significant improvement defensively. The Parisians made very few mistakes, which is encouraging and needs to be confirmed.”
The real value of Lizarazu’s comments lies here: they prevent us from getting carried away. Yes, Paris stifled Chelsea from the outset, controlled the ball, pressed effectively, and displayed far greater consistency than in the first leg. But the former defender refuses to transform a very solid performance into an absolute guarantee for the future. His reservation isn’t a gratuitous attack: he simply points out that Chelsea, in this second leg, didn’t offer the kind of opposition that was truly at the highest European level. In short, PSG has sent a strong signal, but not yet definitive proof.
It’s a cautious assessment, forged by experience, which may seem harsh, but which primarily forces Paris to prove itself when the level of competition rises even further. Ultimately, Lizarazu acknowledges PSG’s growing strength without prematurely declaring them the absolute favorites. It’s a demanding perspective, almost typical of a veteran of the highest level, reminding us that in the Champions League, the toughest challenges often begin right after the most polished performances.
