In the recently concluded Champions League match, Chelsea, playing at Stamford Bridge, narrowly defeated Paphos from Cyprus 1-0.

After the match, Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior highly praised the players' patience and resilience in the face of a tight defense, and made it clear that the team is ready for the crucial week ahead.

Chelsea struggled to break down Paphos's defensive formation throughout the night. Rossellini admitted that the opponent's defensive strategy was very successful, with goalkeeper Jay Gorter making several brilliant saves and the backline repeatedly blocking shots with their bodies.

Despite a slow start to the match, Rossellini was pleased with his players' relentless attacking attitude. He emphasized, "You have to keep going through every block and save."

This perseverance finally paid off with 12 minutes remaining when Moises Caicedo stepped up and headed in the winning goal, securing three valuable points for his team. Rosseil said, "I'm happy Moises scored that goal; it's a result we deserved."

This victory moved Chelsea up to eighth place in the Champions League standings with 13 points. The qualification race is extremely tight, with eight teams tied on 13 points, separated only by goal difference. This means that next Wednesday's away match against Napoli will be crucial in determining their final fate in the Champions League.

Regarding the upcoming grueling schedule, Rossellini believes the team's current focus must be on Sunday's Premier League match against Crystal Palace.

“We need to focus on preparing for Crystal Palace first, and then assess the Napoli game,” Rosseil said. “We know that the trip to Italy will be a tough one, but we are not afraid of the challenge.”

Image source: Internet/Chelsea official website