Motta fears Chelsea remain favourites to reach semi-finals
CHELSEA remain favourites to reach the Champions League semi-finals next week, according to Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Thiago Motta, despite Wednesday’s 3-1 defeat at the Parc des Princes.
Blues boss Jose Mourinho questioned whether his strikers possess the capability required to overturn their two-goal deficit, after an own goal from defender David Luiz, plus strikes from Ezequiel Lavezzi and Javier Pastore cancelled out Eden Hazard’s penalty to give PSG the upper-hand.
But the French champions will travel to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday without star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, out for a minimum four weeks with a hamstring problem, and Motta feels their job is far from done.
“They [Chelsea] remain the favourites,” he said. “They have such experience in European Cups, such players. They will be even better on hostile terrain next week.
“It is still not done, there is another 90 minutes.”
Mourinho made his discontent with his strikers plain, opting to field winger Andre Schurrle as the lone forward with club record £50m signing Fernando Torres left on the bench alongside Demba Ba.
Yet Chelsea appear willing to let Belgium prodigy Romelu Lukaku leave this summer, with London rivals Tottenham leading the race for his signature.
Lukaku has scored 13 Premier League goals during a loan spell at Everton this season and his agent Christophe Henrotay confirmed he had held talks with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.