Chelsea dealt another Champions League setback with PSG to benefit from controversial deal

Paris Saint-Germain blew Chelsea away in the final quarter of an hour at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night, taking a three-goal advantage into the second leg of the Champions League last-16.

Chelsea have already been dealt a major blow to their chances of qualifying for the next round of the UEFA Champions League, regardless of the three-goal deficit. Paris Saint-Germain stormed past the Blues in the final quarter of an hour at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night, banking a 5-2 win in the first leg of the last-16.

The Blues had a foot in the door, coming from behind twice in the opening 60 minutes. Bradley Barcola fired the French giants ahead before Malo Gusto levelled proceedings a few moments later.

Then, Ousmane Dembele restored his side's lead at the end of the second half after PSG caught the west Londoners on the break. Chelsea fought hard to equalise, again, with Enzo Fernandez smashing the ball past Matvei Safonov from close range.

Liam Rosenior had managed to keep the Blues in the tie until Filip Jorgensen fluffed his lines. The 23-year-old goalkeeper was at fault for the reigning European champions' third goal of the night, with Barcola intercepting a sloppy pass.

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The ball fell to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the edge of the box, and he teed up Vitinha, who then chipped Jorgensen. Suddenly, the floodgates opened in the French capital, and Luis Enrique's side went on to score a fourth and a fifth.

Although the Denmark international had a night to forget, Chelsea were always going to be on the back foot in the second leg, regardless of the three-goal deficit. At the end of last month, the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) announced the postponement of PSG's clash against Nantes.

The Parisians were set to play in Ligue 1 this weekend, but they requested to have the game moved. The proposal was accepted, so PSG won't play Nantes until the week commencing April 20, giving them five days off between their first and second leg ties against Chelsea.

An official statement from the French top-flight reads: "At the request of Paris St-Germain, in order to best prepare for their two-legged tie against Chelsea, the LFP board of directors, in agreement with Nantes, have decided the Paris St-Germain-Nantes match will be played the week of April 20. The exact date and time of the match will be determined later."

Meanwhile, Chelsea will lock horns with Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Saturday evening (March 14( – just three days before they host the French giants. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday evening, Rosenior weighed up the Blues' chances of progressing in the competition.

The 41-year-old said: "Even at 4-2, because of the quality of chances we were creating from our build moments, from our possession moments, even at 4-2, saying it's not the best result for us at all but we're still right in this at home at Stamford Bridge.

"The fifth goal, that's the painful, painful one. Yeah, it's something I really have to solve because we are very close, very close to being an outstanding team but we have to overcome this hurdle yesterday to make sure that happens."

Rosenior added: "I need us to maintain our calm in the moment when we have setbacks. This is on me. It's not a blame of the team. It's something that we've spoken about from my first day coming in, about reacting positively, about staying calm in moments and it's not happened.

"That's why it's on me. That's not pointing the finger of blame at the players. The intensity of our press, some of our football, some of the chances we created was outstanding.

"If we don't overcome this hurdle, we won't reach our potential and it's my job to find the answer to it."