The eighth of the Champions League, a possible ‘picadora’ of technicians: from Messi’s PSG to Enzo Fernández’s Chelsea

Say goodbye to the round of 16 Champions League Not usually appropriate for a manager teetering on the tightrope at big European clubs. And in that context, the Lionel Messi’s PSG and the Enzo Fernández’s Chelseathey are perhaps the two most important exponents who will play all or nothing when they resolve their series against Bayern Monaco AND Borussia Dortmundat a disadvantage.

Both have a reputation for unceremoniously sacking big-name managers – such as Carlo Ancelotti and Thomas Tuchel at both sides – and will go into their respective rematches with a 0-1 aggregate finish.

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Graham Potter He has been in charge of Chelsea for six months and the continuity could be played at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. The club spent more than $300m in the latest transfer market, including the millionaire signing of the Argentinian midfielder Enzo Fernándezbut you can’t translate that into quick results.

Christopher Galtier he has PSG top the French league in his first season, but losing his place to Bayern Munich in Germany on Wednesday could cost him his job. In fact, he went through a mini-crisis in which Zinedine Zidane was talked about as his successor.

Galtier is the seventh manager in the nearly 12 years since the Paris club was acquired by Qatar.

Even before the purchase, no one survived four seasons at a club he had 31 different managers in its 53-year history.

The instability of the DTs is something normal in the European elite, and the eight coaches who will be on the field in the Champions League this week have less than 10 years of seniority.

Those are less than the 11 seasons in which Argentine Diego Simeone managed Atlético de Madrid, a phase that included two Spanish league titles, two Champions League runners-up – both lost against Real Madrid in matches that went into extra time – and two consecrations in the Europa League.

A sudden change of coach with the world champion came into force at Benfica this season Nicola Otamendi-, well profiled to access the quarter-finals. The Portuguese host Bruges on Tuesday, with a 2-0 lead in Belgium.

Roger Schmidt He is celebrating his first season as Benfica manager.

Milan will defend the 1-0 in the visit Tottenham on Wednesday. It will be the only match of the week between clubs that have retained last year’s coaches: Stefano Pioli and Antonio Conte, respectively.

Bayern Munich and PSG, a separate story

The two clubs that largely torpedoed the creation of the European Super League in 2021 by refusing to participate in it, are clashing in a Champions League knockout stage for the third time in four seasons.

Bayern won the 2020 final and then PSG knocked out the defending champions in the quarter-finals. That was the last time the away goals rule was breached in the tournament before UEFA scrapped it in 2021.

History repeated itself in Paris three weeks ago when Kingsley Coman scored Bayern’s only goal, as did the former PSG player in the final three years ago.

Since then, PSG have dominated the front pages of newspapers. Three consecutive victories in Ligue 1, including the 3-0 defeat he handed to his classic rival Marseille, calmed the mood.

Also, he physically got his star back Kylian Mbappe, who became the club’s all-time top scorer this weekend -he reached 201 goals at just 24- and Lionel Messi He is one step away from 800 years of his professional career, having been chosen as the best footballer in the world at the annual FIFA awards gala.

The bad news is that Neymar will miss the Bayern match through injury and right-back Achraf Hakimi is involved in an investigation into a rape allegation.

Julian Nagelsmann’s Bayern also won 3-0 in a Bundesliga encounter, beating Union Berlin. The Bavarian side have won their seven matches this season in the ‘Champions’, conceding no goals in six and none at home, which PSG will need to do yes or yes to have a chance of reaching the quarter-finals.