Marco Verratti has told Le Parisien a Champions League last-16 win over Chelsea could be the catalyst for Paris Saint-Germain to become the kings of Europe this season.
Verratti, 22, is set to be part of the PSG starting XI that steps out at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday evening to face the Premier League leaders, who start the tie favourites with the Blues imperious domestically and PSG struggling to catch Lyon at the top of the Ligue 1 table.
However, Verratti believes PSG's opening to 2015, during which they have reached the Coupe de la Ligue final, progressed in the Coupe de France and have only lost once in 10 games, means he can be optimistic about meeting Jose Mourinho's men.
He said: "If you had asked me that question at the time of the draw, I would have been less optimistic, because our December was not good. Now, I have a good feeling.
"We have won a lot of games in a month. Victories bring victories. We can go into this game more calmly than two months ago. Chelsea are one of the best three teams in Europe, but if we play to our best, we can go through and that will give us the confidence to go all the way."
Should they triumph over the opening 90 minutes of the encounter, PSG are unlikely to get carried away, however.
Following a 3-1 first-leg win over Chelsea in last season's quarterfinal tie, PSG felt they were well-placed to go one better than the previous campaign and reach the last four.
However, they suffered the heartbreak of a late Demba Ba strike in the second leg at Stamford Bridge that took the Blues through on away goals.
Verratti insisted it had been the players' approach on the pitch, and not coach Laurent Blanc being outwitted by Mourinho in the dugout, that had cost PSG.
He said: "During the game, I was sure we would qualify. Chelsea didn't dominate as much as all that, they created only a few chances, apart from at the start of the second half when they hit the bar. It was played out in the final three minutes. Mourinho had put on a lot of forwards, and they were a little bit lucky, that's football.
"But we could have done better. We sat back too much, getting deeper and deeper, and watched time tick by. We didn't do all we could not to concede. It was a decision of the players, not the coach. We could have done more."
PSG go into the game seriously weakened with Serge Aurier, Yohan Cabaye and Lucas all injured, while Thiago Motta, so influential playing just behind Verratti in Blanc's midfield trio, could also miss out with a calf problem.
The first three all sustained their injuries in last Saturday's 2-2 league draw with Caen, during which PSG threw away a 2-0 lead in the final three minutes. Former Chelsea and PSG defender Alex believes the damage done to the Ligue 1 title-holder's squad may cost them.
"Chelsea are definitely better than they were last year, but the same is true of PSG, who can hurt them and win it. I fear just one thing for Paris: the injuries from Saturday's game," the former Brazil international centre-back, who left PSG to join AC Milan last summer, is quoted as saying by Le Parisien.
"I expect a lot of Zlatan [Ibrahimovic], who can make the difference all by himself. I am happy that Thiago Silva is back on form. He had a difficult start to the season, but he has become the boss again.
"For me, he's still the best defender in the world. And he has that winning mentality. Just look at how annoyed he was after the draw with Caen."