PARIS — Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele has urged the UEFA Champions League holders to show no mercy in their last-16 second-leg against Chelsea.
Luis Enrique’s side are expected to ease into the quarterfinals after thrashing Chelsea 5-2 in the first leg last week.
Chelsea collapsed in the closing stages in Paris to leave themselves with a daunting task in the rematch at Stamford Bridge. But Ballon d’Or winner Dembele is adamant PSG should go for the kill with an attacking display rather than try to defend their substantial lead.
“As I said after the first leg, our mentality is to win. We cannot just remain defensive. We need to win,” the France star said according to AFP.
“We need to remain extremely focused. Chelsea is a high-quality team; they’ve won many matches in Europe. Our mentality will not change – we came here to win.”
Dembele believes PSG have learnt from the scare they received in last season’s Champions League quarter-finals after building a big lead against Aston Villa.
At one stage in the second-leg, they were beating Unai Emery’s side 5-1 on aggregate at Villa Park.
But Villa hit back with three goals to leave PSG having to survive a tense finish.
“We may suffer a little bit,” Dembele said. “It’s like last season; we won the Champions League but we also had difficult moments. We need to remain focused.
“We’re three goals ahead but our mentality has not changed. We’re not going to be a defensive team and wait. We’re going to play our game.”
Luis Enrique echoed Dembele’s belief that the Villa thriller should serve as a warning to his team that Chelsea is not finished yet.
“It’s a clear example of what a football match could be come,” he said. “We prepared the Villa match just like the Chelsea match, with the intention to win and score goals.
“It’s important to know how to control the match, control the pace. It’s our goal to win the match but we know we will have complicated moments.”
Luis Enrique insisted PSG would ignore the controversy surrounding Chelsea’s pre-match huddle.
Referee Paul Tierney was surrounded by Liam Rosenior’s players when they gathered in a circle before the Blues’ defeat to Newcastle on Saturday.
Holding the huddle in the centre circle has been seen as disrespectful to opponents but the PSG boss said: “I was surprised when I saw it. But I heard Liam talk about it with maturity.
“We can see different things but if there is respect – and I think there is a respect from Chelsea players and staff – no problem at all.”
