Laurent Blanc has warned Paris St Germain's defenders not to allow Chelsea striker Diego Costa into their head, who he says looks to antagonise the opposition when the two sides go head to head in the Champions League last 16 second leg.
The Spaniard is known for giving defenders a hard time and has been known to wind them up with his performances.
And the Frenchman knows Costa thrives on the physical nature of the game and watched him do so in the Blues' Capital One Cup triumph against Tottenham .
Blanc said: “He's a boy who loves the contact, loves the duels, and is very suited to the English game.
“He likes the challenge, the contact, and provoking opposition players. That's something he needs. He thrives off that.
“It's important not to get caught up in that. I watched the game against Tottenham and, right from the start, he was looking to do that.
“So the centre-backs playing around him have to be effective in stopping him. He's got good physicality, is technically good, but he tries to provoke a reaction. Always. Away from home, we have to be as effective as possible in trying to stop him.”
The French side were frustrated by the laxness of the referee in the first leg but Blanc is calm over Dutch official Bjorn Kuipers.
He said: “I'm pretty relaxed about the referee. He's very experienced at this level. I hope he puts in a good performance and the teams go out there and try and play football.
“Chelsea will try and employ certain tactics to keep things going their way – we do that as well – but it's about having experience in these big matches. People resort to certain tactics at times.
“Chelsea start with a slight advantage, and we have to take some risks but not too many. We've only had the first act of this tie.
“Now we need to stand up and be counted, but also stay in the game. We need to stay solid ad well as attack and create chances.”
Paris St Germain will wear black armbands at Stamford Bridge tomorrow night after a helicopter crash in Argentina claimed the lives of 10 people, including French yachtswoman Florence Arthaud, Olympic swimmer Camille Muffat and Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine.
Blanc described French sport as in mourning after the tragedy.
