PSG leave Chelsea humbled as European champions flex their power

On Wednesday night's evidence, Chelsea are light years away from being able to compete with the best in England, let alone Europe.

Paris Saint-Germain's Vitinha was outstanding against Chelsea. Pic: Adam Davy/PA Wire.

It was in the 65th minute, long after this round of 16 tie had ceased to be a contest, that Paris Saint Germain's fans taunted those home supporters remaining in the rapidly emptying stands, by doing a 'Poznan', turning their backs on the action the way Manchester City's fans used to do when they were lording it around Europe.

Now it is PSG's turn to proclaim themselves, correctly, as the Kings of European football. Never mind the garish gold badge that adorns Chelsea's shirts, a tacky touch after they beat PSG to win the Club World Cup in front of Donald Trump last summer. That confected competition was never a true barometer of greatness, lacking as it did the champions of England and Spain as well as an Arsenal side that is sweeping all before them this season.

One also suspects that PSG were still giddy with celebration after finally ending their quest for the most prestigious trophy in club football, thrashing Inter 5-0 in the final last May. Luis Enrique's young team was the most exciting in the world last season, and they are re-establishing that reputation at a perfect time, the business end of the season, when the most glittering prizes are won or lost.

Chelsea will not be challenging for the biggest trophies this season, nor for a while yet the way things are going. On last night's evidence, Liam Rosenior's men are light years away from being able to compete with the best in England, let alone Europe.

This was nothing short of humiliating for Chelsea, their worst aggregate defeat in Europe's premier competition, and unless they pick themselves up quickly, they will not be playing in it next year.

Incredibly Chelsea had been in a good position after 75 minutes of the first leg in Paris last week, drawing 2-2 before imploding to concede three late goals.

This time it was not even close.

Never mind the PA announcer imploring home supporters to get behind the 'world champions' before kick-off. They had a three-goal deficit to overturn, and within six minutes PSG were 6-2 ahead on aggregate. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia pounced and outmuscled a dithering Mamadou Sarr to shoot past Robert Sanchez, restored in goal after his controversial omission last week, and PSG never looked back.

Bradley Barcola made it 2-0 on the night and 7-2 on aggregate eight minutes later, and by the time substitute Senny Mayulu made it 3-0 just after the hour mark, everyone knew there was no coming back. Rosenior took off three of his stars, Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Enzo Fernandez, to rest them for this weekend's game against Everton, a decision that was booed by some of those home fans who had not already left half an hour early.

Enrique was also able to rest some of his stars, including Kvaratskhelia, Barcola and the outstanding Vitinha, the diminutive Portuguese playmaker who was the smallest in height but biggest in presence on the pitch last night.

Barely five years ago the little man was scoring the winner for Wolves at non-league Chorley in the FA Cup, now he has replaced Cristiano Ronaldo as the heartbeat of a Portugal side that will head to the World Cup in North America this summer with high hopes.

He was magnificent tonight, in a midfield alongside compatriot Joao Neves, 21, and 20-year-old Warren Zaire-Emery. The trio made a mockery of their Chelsea counterparts, including €100m men Fernandes and Moises Caicedo, who barely had a kick.

It was not the first time we have been privileged to see a world-class midfield unit come to Stamford Bridge and dismantle Chelsea in this competition. Think back to Barcelona's classic trio of Messi, Iniesta and Xavi, or more recently the all-conquering Real Madrid midfield of little Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro.

PSG's midfield may not be quite at those levels here yet, but time is on their side, as it is with the rest of Enrique's team.

Their supporters could have been forgiven, before kick-off, for still bearing the mental scars from 2017, when Barcelona overturned a 4-0 first leg deficit to win 6-5 on aggregate.

But Enrique and his players, with the exception of captain Marquinhos, were not involved nine years ago and the muscle memories of this current squad are those of winners.

If they do not win the Champions League again, they are likely to go close, but for Chelsea there is a lot of soul-searching to come if Rosenior is to get his expensively assembled squad challenging for major honours.

They may have had a good result off the field this week, avoiding sporting sanctions for multiple breaches of financial regulations, but on the pitch there is a huge amount of work to be done.