Gary Cahill warns Chelsea teammates to focus on team before self

With City flying to Ukraine to face Dynamo Kiev just 24 hours after Sunday’s showdown with Chelsea, the FA Cup tie could not have come at a worse time for Pellegrini, who is reluctant to field his strongest side. “Paris have a great team, great players, but we go there to try to win the game”, Brazilian winger Willian said.

“But you adapt and Branislav and I have played together before in the Premier League and in Europe and were successful”.

Serge Aurier’s homophobic comments – which coach Laurent Blanc has since succinctly derided as “pitiful” – have ensured that the focus of attention has centred on the hosts while Chelsea silently rolled into town yesterday afternoon to begin preparations.

“Obviously we will miss maybe his leader capacity but I think other players have to take in and take over that leadership”.

The UEFA Champions League starts again this week, with both Chelsea and Zenit St Petersburg involved in the first round of games on Tuesday.

The Champions League Round of 16 is about to get under way and we can not resist making predictions.

“I’ve played with [Branislav Ivanović] before [at centre-back], although not very often”.

Mikel says he “has seen them all” come and go from the Stamford Bridge managerial hotseat and will become Chelsea’s longest-serving player when John Terry leaves this summer. We also had midfielders who did good defensive work.

Hiddink will know all of these variables, and will be turning them over in his mind ahead of picking his Tuesday night team sheet.

Fabregas has been heavily criticised this season, including by many Chelsea supporters, for a series of performances that have been a far cry from his early displays in a Blues shirt.

The sides meet in the Champions League for the third successive season and PSG originally appeared the undisputed favourites.

Then, a 1-1 first leg result across the channel was seen as a victory – only for Mourinho’s team to succumb on away goals after a 2-2 second leg in west London.

“Going back to the Bridge with a 1-1 would have been fantastic, but everyone in the competition is more comfortable when they are at home and we are looking forward to it”.

“He has a little problem with his hamstring and a tendon in the hamstring area, that’s why we made the ultimate test this morning and decided not to participate”.