Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic believes that the Blues’ lack of a weekend fixture will greatly help them prepare for their Champions League encounter against Paris Saint-Germain.
Jose Mourinho’s team won their first trophy of the current campaign when a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur saw them lift the League Cup at Wembley on Sunday. The Blues’ followed their triumph with a 1-0 win over West Ham United in the league on Wednesday.
The midweek win meant that Chelsea maintain their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League over their nearest rivals Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City.
The Pensioners have exactly a week since the Hammers’ win before they host the reigning French champions in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
And Ivanovic feels that his team’s extended break due to them not playing any fixtures this weekend will stand Chelsea in good stead against Laurent Blanc’s men.
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“For us as a team it’s very good because we will have time to refresh ourselves and at the same time work and prepare for the game in detail”, Ivanovic told the club site.
“For sure we will be ready”, he declared.
Chelsea will take an away goal into the second leg having drawn 1-1 at the Parc des Princes, but the Serbian has said that they will focus on getting a win and not rely on their away goal advantage.
“We had a great result in Paris, but it doesn’t make any difference preparing for the next game.
“We have to go to try and win and not think we have an advantage.”
He further added with the season well into its final stretch, no games can be taken lightly and Chelsea need to stay focused in order to add more silverware to their trophy cabinet.
“The games are coming and everyone is more important than the previous one.
“We are 100 per cent focused on the Champions League now because we want to go through.”
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