• Champions League

Mourinho: Chelsea got away with it in Paris

Branislav Ivanovic scored what could be a vital away goal for Chelsea in Paris © Getty Images

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Jose Mourinho admitted Chelsea were lucky to get away with a 1-1 draw in their Champions League last 16 first leg against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.

Branislav Ivanovic's header on 36 minutes gave Chelsea the lead at the Parc des Princes but PSG hit back when Edinson Cavani headed home an equaliser early in the second half.

PSG might feel they deserved more from the match after seeing Thibaut Courtois produce a string of top-class saves to deny Cavani, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Blaise Matuidi.

When asked if Chelsea had got away with it in Paris, Mourinho told ITV1: "When you look at the performance of our goalkeeper, you have to say yes. Our goalkeeper made two or three important saves in the game."

However, the Chelsea boss pointed to the fact five of his players had not trained in the build-up to the game, saying: "Sometimes people speak about the players, about their injuries and they don't play. But there were injured players that played and the injured players that didn't train to play.

"I have in this team five players that didn't train. Five players since the game against Everton, that didn't train once. Yesterday they had like a warm-down for the press to see they were on the pitch, but we had five players who didn't train.

"We felt that a little, so I am happy with the result because two legs is now one leg with everything to be decided at Stamford Bridge."

Chelsea captain John Terry was also thankful for Courtois' performance, adding: "Both teams were kind of feeling each other the first half in quite an even game and we managed to get one up.

"It was a difficult second half. Thibaut pulled off some great games to keep us in it and we got away with a happy draw."

PSG played David Luiz in midfield and Terry said the former Chelsea defender made life difficult on his former team: "They keep the ball very well. They were in control of the game. Obviously, David, his range of passes is very good so they're able to stretch us.

"But I thought it was quite even tonight. I thought we've played OK. They've done quite well second half."

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