Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea faced off this Wednesday at the Parc des Princes in the first leg of their 2025-2026 Champions League Round of 16 tie (return leg on March 17). The match ended in a 5-2 victory for PSG. After the match, Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior spoke at a press conference.
Rosenior: “The fifth goal is the most painful. It makes the return leg very difficult for us.”
A painful end to the match?
It’s a disappointing result, on an evening where for most of the match I was very happy with our performance. The last 15-20 minutes were crazy, in several aspects. It’s my responsibility. We have to be better in difficult moments, when we make mistakes. Myself included. We were punished by a very good team. That makes the scoreline very painful. For 70 minutes, we were evenly matched.
Did Jorgensen play well until the mistake?
There was a mistake, it’s not the first time we’ve made one. It’s part of football. At 2-2, we had the upper hand, then there was the offside goal. At the highest level, the Champions League, the game is decided by small margins. The fifth goal is the most painful. It makes the comeback very difficult for us.
Rosenior: “It’s up to me to find the answer.”
Pedro Neto’s anger towards the ball boy?
I want to apologize on behalf of the club; he apologized in an interview. We talked about discipline, about staying calm. It’s up to me to find the answer. We played well; we came here to win. But the situation is very difficult now, even if it’s not impossible.
Any glimmers of hope?
Even at 4-2, considering the chances we created, it’s not the best result, but we were still fully committed for the second leg. The fifth goal was very painful. It’s something I need to address because we’re not far from being an incredible team. We have to make sure that a finish like that doesn’t happen again.
Rosenior: “You have to be able to maintain control to be effective. We were close to taking the lead.”
A poor choice of goalkeeper?
They have different qualities. Sanchez is incredible with crosses and shots. I try to win in both the short and long term. Filip Jorgensen, one of the reasons for our 4-1 victory at Aston Villa, was very calm in possession. Coming here, against a PSG side that presses so high, you have to be able to maintain control to be effective. We were close to taking the lead. Now, we’re in a difficult situation.
What needs to be improved?
We need to stay calm in the face of difficulties. That’s also my responsibility. We’ve been talking about having a positive reaction since I arrived. But it hasn’t happened. So it’s my fault. But there are incredible elements in the game. Now we have to find the answer.
Rosenior: “The third goal makes things particularly difficult.”
A mental collapse after the third goal?
It wouldn’t be necessary to say so if the 3-3 scoreline hadn’t been offside by millimeters. Then there’s a fantastic shot from Kvaratskhelia that no one stops. At two goals down, we could have completely turned it around in the second leg. The third goal makes things particularly difficult.
Did PSG bring difficulties that you don’t see in the Premier League? Like shots from outside the box?
In the Premier League, there aren’t Doué, Barcola, Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia, or Neves. They’re an incredible team, the European champions. That’s why I’m particularly disappointed with how things ended after the performance up until 3-2.
Two goalkeepers struggling, what’s the solution?
Mistakes happen, I make them, everyone makes them. Some cost us more than others. We have to look out for each other. We have to show our resilience.
