Home / Football / Champions League News Rosenior admits early Chelsea mistakes killed comeback hopes in Champions League The Blues struggled to create any meaningful chances against Paris Saint-Germain Written by Mitch Fretton Last Update: March 17, 2026 10:47:33 pm GMT 2 min read Liam Rosenior admitted Chelsea could not afford the early mistakes that handed Paris Saint-Germain control of their Champions League last-16 tie, as the Blues crashed out 8-2 on aggregate at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night. PSG were two goals up inside 14 minutes, and Rosenior was candid about the damage those early setbacks caused. A tough night. We knew it was a tough ask and to start the game in the manner that we did, we had the ball in the final third, you cant make mistakes at this level. We had the ball in their box and Barcola hit one from 25 yards into the top corner. Their belief grows.The Chelsea manager pointed to clinical finishing as the key difference between the two sides. They were clinical. The third goal, ball breaks and he hits it into the top corner. I havent looked at the stats yet, but we had a lot of shots. They didnt make mistakes.Sarr and the defensive crisisThe decision to start 19-year-old Mamadou Sarr at right-back, with both Reece James and Malo Gusto unavailable, drew considerable scrutiny after the Frenchman struggled against Kvaratskhelias movement in the opening exchanges. Rosenior defended the call but acknowledged the toll it took. Mamadou, hes a very good player, but we missed our two starting right-backs. There are times when you have to put players in and you have to trust them. It took the wind out of our sails.The evening grew worse when Trevoh Chalobah was stretchered off late in the game following a collision with Hakimi, leaving Chelsea without a substitute available to replace him. Rosenior revealed the initial diagnosis after the final whistle. Trevoh, I just asked the medical team. Hes got a high ankle sprain, so Im praying its nothing too serious because we cant lose another defender.With a top-four push the sole remaining objective for the Blues, attention now turns to a Premier League visit to Everton this weekend.When you go through a difficult run, you have to make sure your habits are right. We have a really difficult game at Everton and we have to be at our best to get a result there, Rosenior added. Topics: Chelsea F.C. Liam Rosenior Follow us: Mitch Fretton Mitch is a freelance sports journalist with experience working for LiveScore, GOAL and Colchester United. He has experience working from both his desk at home and in the press box at games covering the Champions League and international football. Read more from Mitch Fretton
