The Champions League could condemn technicians on the tightrope

Saying goodbye to the Champions League round of 16 was never a timely thing for a coach who teeters on the tightrope at Europe’s big clubs.

Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain have a reputation for unceremoniously disposing of great managers – like Carlo Ancelotti and Thomas Tuchel in both teams – and are playing their respective first legs 1-0.

Graham Potter has been in charge of Chelsea for six months and continuity could be at stake when Borussia Dortmund host at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

Christophe Galtier has PSG top of the French league in his first season but falling by the wayside against Bayern Munich in Germany on Wednesday could cost him his job.

Galtier is the seventh coach in almost 12 years since the acquisition of the Parisian club by Qatar.

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

Instability among managers is normal for Europe’s top flight, and the eight managers who will be in action in the Champions League this week have combined for a combined tenure of less than 10 years.

Diego Simeone has been in charge of Atlético de Madrid for less than 11 years, a period that includes two Spanish league titles, two Champions Leagues – both lost to Real Madrid in games that have been extended. – and two consecrations in the Europa League. .

A sudden change of coach took place this season at Benfica, well profiled to reach the quarter-finals. The Portuguese host Club Brugge on Tuesday with a 2-0 lead after the first leg in Belgium.

Roger Schmidt is completing his first season as Benfica manager – the fifth permanent or interim since the start of 2019.

Milan will defend a 1-0 lead when they visit Tottenham on Wednesday. This will be the only match of the week between the clubs who retained the coaches from the previous course – Stefano Pioli and Antonio Conte, respectively.

BAYERN-PSG REUNION

The two clubs who largely torpedoed the creation of the Super League in 2021 by refusing to take part face off in a ‘Champions’ 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. It was the last time the away goals rule was excluded from 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 the former PSG man did in the final three years ago.

Since then, PSG have been in the headlines. Three victories in a row in Ligue 1, including the 3-0 defeat he delivered to his classic rival Marseille. Kylian Mbappé has just become the club’s top scorer, scoring 201 goals at just 24 years old. And Lionel Messi has been crowned the best football player in the world at the annual FIFA awards gala.

However, Neymar is set to miss the Bayern game through injury and right-back Achraf Hakimi has been involved in a rape complaint investigation.

Julian Nagelsmann’s Bayern also cruised to a 3-0 victory in a Bundesliga game, beating Union Berlin. The Bavarian side have won all seven matches they have played this season in the “Champions”, without conceding a goal in six and without conceding any at home.