UEFA Champions League 2014/15 Season Awards
By Ryan Wrenn
Best Team Performance
Alright, as we all wipe the tears from our eyes after watching that video, let’s get into the actual gritty reality of football. The reality that (mercifully?) only occasionally features Lionel Messi . In that world the tactics do matter and magic doesn’t exist. There have been some impressive team performances this Champions League campaign, but none so impressive as in Paris Saint Germain’s Round of 16 match against Chelsea. The London club entered the game at a slight advantage after earning a crucial away goal in the 1-1 draw in the first leg held in Paris. Their chances improved significantly when Zlatan Ibrahimović was sent off due to a harsh challenge on Oscar in the 32nd minute. From there all Chelsea had to do was take their usual game to PSG and should have seen the game out easily.
Instead, PSG manager Laurent Blanc put on something of a tactical masterclass for Jose Mourinho and his Chelsea squad. Not content with sitting back and relying on counterattacking chances, he kept his defense and midfield untouched while making some subtle adjustments in offense. They were able to hold off Chelsea while also keeping themselves in the game, no easy task for a team with 11 men, much less 10. Their midfield, best in the world were in not for Barcelona and Juventus, continued to run an already tired Chelsea ragged. Indeed, if anything, Blanc’s team played better a man down than they did with Ibrahimović on the field. The game did get a bit chaotic toward the end, with defender errors only exceeded by defender goals, but it was a classic performance that deservedly progressed PSG farther in the tournament.
Next: Best Goal