Football
ESPN staff 10y

Torres set to start against PSG

Fernando Torres is expected to spearhead Chelsea’s attack when they take on Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday evening.

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Chelsea travelled without the injured Samuel Eto’o for the game at the Parc des Princes after he failed to recover from a hamstring injury he picked up in the 6-0 win against Arsenal.

The only other striker available to Jose Mourinho is Demba Ba, who has been used in a bit-part role this season.

Chelsea’s continued lack of options in attack is something Mourinho is keen to address at the end of the season, after they failed to score for a second time in three Premier League games during the 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

After that game Mourinho said: "I don't think it's the moment to speak about next season and the market but it's clear to everybody that Chelsea next year wants to bring in a striker," said Mourinho.

"What's the future for the other strikers? The ones who are staying are competing with the striker we are bringing [in].

"And normally, at the end of the season, players that are not playing a lot or players who are not happy may prefer a change. That is also part of the market."

Mourinho was asked on Tuesday to replicate his memorable moment on the eve of a Champions League last 16 tie at Barcelona in February 2005 and list the two sides for the following day's match.

The Chelsea boss deferred to the UEFA interpreter on his right, suggesting he had guessed the visitors' line-up correctly and read out the first five names on the team-sheet.

"Petr Cech, (Branislav) Ivanovic, (John) Terry, (Gary) Cahill and (Cesar) Azpilicueta," said Mourinho, who opened his eve-of-match media conference by announcing Azpilicueta had become a father on Monday to a girl, Martina.

Asked to read further, Mourinho screwed up the piece of paper.

The Spain full-back was smiling widely after the arrival of his daughter and now hopes to return with a victory.

"I want to play. Yesterday was a beautiful day for me," Azpilicueta said. "But now I know that my two girls are okay and I came with my head clean to train today, to play tomorrow and to get back with a good result so everyone will be happy."

In addition to Eto’o, Chelsea will also be without Ashley Cole, Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah. Mark Schwarzer is a doubt.

Cole has been sidelined with a knee injury, while Matic and Salah are ineligible after representing Benfica and Basel at an earlier stage of the competition.

Reserve goalkeeper Schwarzer missed the defeat at Selhurst Park through illness, and it is not yet confirmed if he is well enough to return but he has travelled.

Information from the Press Association was used in this report.

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