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The main talking points and moments missed from Chelsea's agonising Champions League last 16 first leg defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes on Wednesday evening
Chelsea supporters had waited almost three years to be back in the knockout stages of the Champions League. The Blues, though, put in a 20-minute performance of a team that had forgotten what it takes to play on Europe's biggest stage.
For the majority of the match, Chelsea went toe-to-toe with Paris Saint-Germain, in the European champion's back yard. It was on 74 minutes that PSG went ahead for the third time in the last 16 first leg tie at Parc des Princes, with goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen gifting possession to Bradley Barcola, only for it to be finished, smartly, by the outstanding Vitinha.
It was a horror moment for Jorgensen, who had been given the nod ahead of the usual No.1 goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. Jorgensen surprisingly replaced Sanchez for last week's win over Aston Villa. On that night at Villa Park, Chelsea were able to utilise the Danish goalkeeper's ability on the ball to break through the home side's high press.
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Liam Rosenior wanted something similar in Paris, but that decision backfired. Asked about his decision to start Jorgensen, Rosenior told reporters: "They have different qualities. Rob is outstanding from crosses, an outstanding shot-stopper. I am trying to win in the short term and win in the long term as well.
"Filip has different qualities and one of his qualities, which he showed against Aston Villa, we were so calm in our possession moments, which we weren't before, not just on Rob but on the whole team.
"Coming here against a really high-pressing team, if you stay calm and play through the initial pressure, you can cause a lot of problems, which we did. It's just painful that we've made that mistake in that moment to make the game 3-2 and now we are in a very, very difficult position in this tie now with the end result."
Some of Jorgensen's Chelsea teammates were visibly furious with the goalkeeper, not least Enzo Fernandez. The Argentina international, who had equalised for the Blues to make it 2-2 on 57 minutes, lost his cool with Jorgensen after the visitors conceded what looked to be PSG's fifth goal, only for it to be ruled out for offside.
Fernandez chucked the ball in Jorgensen's direction while shouting at the Dane. Jorgensen could be seen explaining himself but it didn't look as if Fernandez was in any mood to hear his colleague out.
Not long after PSG's third, the European champions had their fourth - gaining a two-goal cushion for the first time in the tie. The menacing Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, on as a second-half substitute which speaks to PSG's ridiculously talented set of attacking options, scored a glorious goal from the edge of the box. One could argue Chelsea should have got out to the Georgian quicker, but sometimes you have to just hold your hands up.
At 4-2 down, it was not a disaster for Chelsea. With the return leg at Stamford Bridge next week, a two-goal cushion would not have been impossible to turn around. And while a three-goal deficit is not either, it is much more difficult.
Kvaratskhelia scored PSG's fifth of the night, again with Jorgensen not covering himself in glory. "The fifth goal was the most painful one," said Rosenior. "We don't settle ourselves down. We don't deal with the basic pattern of play. They score a fifth goal and make the tie very difficult for us."
While no Chelsea player was booked or red carded during the defeat in Paris, it was once again a failure to keep their cool in pivotal moments that ultimately cost the Blues. Yes, Jorgensen can be blamed for at least two of the goals but overall, the visitors imploded in the French capital - something Rosenior put on himself.
"I need us to maintain our calm in the moment when we have setbacks," Rosenior said, for what feels like the 100th time since he was appointed Chelsea head coach two months ago. "This is on me. It's not a blame of the team.
"It's something that we've spoken about from the first day coming in, about reacting positively, about staying calm in moments and it's not happened. That is why it is on me. That is not pointing the finger to blame the players."
Rosenior went on and said Chelsea will not be able to take the next step, the step that will see them take PSG all the way in this tie, unless they can show more nous in games of this calibre. "The intensity of our press, some of our football, some of the chances we created was outstanding," added the Chelsea head coach.
"If we don't overcome this hurdle, we won't reach our potential and it's my job to find the answer to it."
Bar that 20-odd minutes, there were so many encouraging signs from Chelsea's perspective. That is why it is almost unfathomable that the Blues found themselves on the canvas by the time the full-time whistle was blown.
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