PSG hoping for Chelsea tonic

Paris St Germain president Francis Graille believes Chelsea could feel the backlash of the French club’s poor start to the season when they meet in the Champions League on Tuesday.

PSG are winless in five games following yesterday’s 1-1 draw with Istres, which saw Rafik Saiki put the home side ahead before the Parisians hit back with a penalty from substitute Pedro Pauleta in the second half.

But Graille expects the team to get their act together soon as he prepares to renew rivalries with Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon.

Kenyon and Graille fell out last year when PSG decided to sell their star player Ronaldinho to Barcelona rather than Manchester United just when Kenyon, then at Old Trafford, believed he had agreed a deal for the Brazilian ace.

Graille told broadcasters TPS: “It’s better because we got a draw. We were playing against a very strong Istres team. We have to console ourselves as we can.

“We saw a Paris team with two faces. Under the cosh in the first half, we were more at ease in the second.

“What pleased me was the reaction of pride that we had. Chelsea could be the moment when we click.”