Jose Mourinho has taken a swipe at Paris Saint-Germain ahead of the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie by claiming the French champions are the "most aggressive" team Chelsea have faced this season.
Laurent Blanc's side travel to west London with the tie finely poised after a 1-1 draw in Paris in mid-February.
Mourinho was unhappy with the treatment dished out to Eden Hazard at Parc des Princes, with the Belgium international being fouled a record nine times throughout the game – though the referee issued just two yellow cards to PSG players during the clash.
"The most agressive team we've played this season is Paris Saint-Germain," the Chelsea boss told reporters on Wednesday.
"I have to be fair, I thought an English team would never be surprised by aggressive play because we have it in our country.
"We've played against sides from the Championship in the Cup, against teams from League One and Shrewsbury [Town] from League Two, but the most aggressive team was PSG.
"For me, that was a real surprise. With players of such quality, I was expecting more football and less aggression."
Mourinho also criticised the assertion that PSG dominated the opening leg, claiming that they "dominated in everything except the result".
"It depends on your concept of football. If dominate is the number of chances, yes, Paris had more chances," he said. "If dominate is to make foul after foul. Or to move the ball without progression.
Laurent Blanc's side travel to west London with the tie finely poised after a 1-1 draw in Paris in mid-February.
Mourinho was unhappy with the treatment dished out to Eden Hazard at Parc des Princes, with the Belgium international being fouled a record nine times throughout the game – though the referee issued just two yellow cards to PSG players during the clash.
"The most agressive team we've played this season is Paris Saint-Germain," the Chelsea boss told reporters on Wednesday.
"I have to be fair, I thought an English team would never be surprised by aggressive play because we have it in our country.
"We've played against sides from the Championship in the Cup, against teams from League One and Shrewsbury [Town] from League Two, but the most aggressive team was PSG.
"For me, that was a real surprise. With players of such quality, I was expecting more football and less aggression."
Mourinho also criticised the assertion that PSG dominated the opening leg, claiming that they "dominated in everything except the result".
"It depends on your concept of football. If dominate is the number of chances, yes, Paris had more chances," he said. "If dominate is to make foul after foul. Or to move the ball without progression.
