Chelsea buzzing ahead of PSG return, says Cahill

LONDON/BERLIN — Chelsea are brimming with confidence and, fortified by a seven-day break, go into Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 return match as favourites to knock Paris St Germain out for the second season in a row.

Defender Gary Cahill says “there’s a great buzz” around Stamford Bridge after the Londoners followed their 2-0 League Cup final victory over Tottenham Hotspur on March 1 by winning 1-0 at West Ham United in the Premier League three days later.

Treble-chasing Chelsea, who are five points clear at the top of the Premier League, have not played since their Upton Park triumph and, according to Cahill, the Wembley win over Spurs has lifted the squad’s self-belief to new heights.

“The cup final was huge in terms of the atmosphere around the club and the dressing room,” he told the club website.

“We were desperate as a squad to win that game. It’s the first time this group, a newish group formed at the start of last season and before this season, has reached the end of a competition together.

“We came through it really well and hopefully we can take the positive experiences from that and try and build momentum for many more cup finals,” added Cahill.

“We are very proud of winning our first trophy as a group together and getting that win at West Ham. But they are gone, all that is on our minds now is the PSG game.”

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was missing through injury when PSG were beaten on away goals by Chelsea in last season’s quarter-finals but the French club’s talismanic striker is fit this time round.

Last month’s first leg in Paris ended in a 1-1 draw and visiting coach Laurent Blanc wants his attack to be more ruthless than they were during Saturday’s 4-1 victory over struggling RC Lens in Ligue 1.

“When you play a game like the one against Lens you must be efficient,” said Blanc who criticised Argentine forward Ezequiel Lavezzi for wasting an opportunity in front of an open goal.

“If he misses the same chance at Stamford Bridge I won’t be the only one who is not happy.”

PSG will be without injured forward Lucas but fellow Brazilian David Luiz returns to Chelsea for the first time since moving to Paris in the close season.

Bayern-Shaktar

Bayern Munich go into their Champions League last-16 second leg at home to Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday knowing the game will make or break their season.

Bayern are runaway Bundesliga leaders and also reached the German Cup quarter-finals last week, but anything short of lifting Europe’s biggest club crown will be considered a failure for Germany’s wealthiest team.

“This match is a final for us,” coach Pep Guardiola told reporters after Bayern’s 3-1 win at Hanover 96 in the league on Saturday. “Only one thing matters and that is to win.

“We know what we have to do. They [Shakhtar] have extremely quick forwards and we cannot allow them to make their runs,” said the Spaniard.

Bayern, five-time European champions, need to win to advance over 90 minutes, with a score draw sending the Ukrainians through after their goalless first leg last month.

The Bavarians are still odds-on favourites to progress, having won all their previous home games in the group stage this season without conceding a goal.

Bayern’s domestic form has been equally impressive, having scored an eye-popping 21 goals in their last four league games.

“Against many opponents it is us who are the favourites and that is justified,” said captain Philipp Lahm, who will miss the game after breaking his ankle late last year.

“So it is also up to us and our own performances to make sure we can count ourselves among the top teams or not,” he told Kicker magazine. “Bayern have to advance because we want to belong to Europe’s elite.”

Guardiola will be without the experienced Xabi Alonso, who is suspended after his red card in the first leg, but he could have defender Medhi Benatia, back from injury, in the squad.

Strong discipline

The odds are stacked against Shakhtar, whose season only started at the end of last month, said coach Mircea Lucescu.

“We will be playing against a very strong club. In my opinion Bayern are the world’s strongest football team at the moment,” the Romanian said.

“We have to respond to their extraordinary tactical discipline with equally strong tactical discipline.”

He said the Ukrainians were at a disadvantage with their league only just under way.

“They have an advantage on us on that matter. Their team is also superior to ours, but football does not follow logical rules. In football, anything can happen,” he said.

Defensive midfielder Taras Stepanenko is back following suspension for Shakhtar who are unbeaten in seven straight games in all competitions.