Football: Platini predicts PSG have ability to win Champs League after beating Chelsea

PARIS (AFP) - Uefa president Michel Platini predicted on Thursday that Paris Saint-Germain were destined to go all the way and win the Champions League after advancing to the quarter-finals past Chelsea.

The Qatar-backed Ligue 1 club overcame the early dismissal of star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night to knock Chelsea out on away goals after extra time.

"I am not surprised that PSG, even with one man down, beat Chelsea," Platini said in Lyon on the sidelines of a committee meeting for Euro 2016, to be hosted by France.

"They are already ready to win the tournament, they have the team to win it. They are programmed to do so," the Frenchman added.

The French press hailed the achievement on Thursday which sports daily L'Equipe headlined as "Heroic".

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi agreed that the PSG "project was on the right track".

"Qualifying here (in London), against (Jose) Mourinho's Chelsea was difficult. Before the game, I told the players face to face that we could do it. Everyone believed it. I'm very proud," said the Qatari businessman.

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