Fans boo team as Chelsea humiliated 8-2 on aggregate by PSG in Champions League

Chelsea FC suffered their joint-heaviest defeat in a two-legged European tie, losing 8-2 on aggregate and 3-0 on the night to European champions Paris Saint-Germain at Stamford Bridge.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring after just six minutes, with Bradley Barcola doubling PSG’s lead with their second shot of the game in the 14th minute.

According to the BBC, the early goals effectively ended the tie as a contest, and substitute Senny Mayulu compounded Chelsea’s misery in this last-16 encounter.

Frustration spilled over among home supporters, with chants for former owner Roman Abramovich—despite the Premier League issuing a record £10.75 million fine over more than £47 million of undeclared payments to agents—alongside protests directed at the current ownership.

“This is a fantastic football club where the fans want success instantly and that’s rightfully so for the size of the club,” said Liam Rosenior afterwards.

“I understand because of the aggregate scoreline in the tie why fans are frustrated. They want us to win. So, I completely get it and I understood that before I came in.
I also want to make them happy and give them the nights they deserve. Not just me, but us as a group, as a team. That was a really difficult one to take because of the manner in which we went out this evening,” Rosenior told the BBC.

The opening goal came after hesitant defending from Mamadou Sarr, allowing Kvaratskhelia to pounce and fire a low left-footed shot into the net.

Chelsea responded with attacking spells led by Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez, Pedro Neto and Trevoh Chalobah, but PSG struck again.

After Moises Caicedo lost possession in midfield, PSG broke quickly and Barcola controlled superbly before volleying into the top corner to double the lead.

Despite continued pressure, Chelsea failed to convert chances created by Joao Pedro, Palmer and Jorrel Hato, while remaining vulnerable to counter-attacks.

The Blues were booed off at half-time, prompting Rosenior to replace Sarr with academy graduate Josh Acheampong.

After the break, Joao Pedro came close again in the 56th minute, but Rosenior soon made further changes, withdrawing key players Palmer, Fernandez and Joao Pedro.

Substitute Liam Delap nearly made an impact with a close-range effort, but Mayulu sealed the result with a superb curling finish from just inside the box, completing a dominant 8-2 aggregate victory.

Chelsea became only the third English side to concede eight goals in a European tie, and matters worsened late on when Chalobah was stretchered off, leaving the hosts with 10 men.

Rosenior confirmed the defender sustained a “high ankle sprain” and said he was “praying it’s nothing too serious because we can’t lose another defender”—a reference to Reece James’s recent injury.

PSG will now face the winner of Liverpool FC and Galatasaray, with the Turkish side holding a 1-0 advantage ahead of the second leg at Anfield.

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