The Champions League Round of 16 draw will soon reveal Chelsea’s next opponent, and Alan Shearer has weighed in on whether he would like to see Newcastle paired with the Blues.
Newcastle knocked out Qarabag in the play-offs, while PSG overcame their local rivals Monaco. Now, both could be drawn to face Chelsea in the round of 16.
The Blues recently beat PSG, unlike the Premier League side, who scored nine goals in their tie.
Alan Shearer would prefer Newcastle face Chelsea over Barcelona in the Champions League
Speaking on ‘The Rest is Football’, Newcastle legend Shearer was asked whether he would prefer his team to play Chelsea or Barcelona in the competition.
He replied: “I think because of probably slightly better chance of going through against Chelsea than maybe Barcelona. Although Barcelona’s high line might suit the pace of Newcastle up front. But I think realistically, chance wise, Chelsea.”
Chelsea, managed by Enzo Maresca at the time, had already shown how to get past Barcelona in the group stage. Even without a recognised striker, they managed a convincing 3-0 win.
Their group stage campaign was inconsistent overall, but under Liam Rosenior they won both crucial matches, including an impressive away victory over Antonio Conte’s Napoli.
While some fans might have expected a softer draw after finishing in the top eight, early high-profile matchups like these are becoming more common under the new Champions League format.
Liam Rosenior hoping to follow in the footsteps of Thomas Tuchel and Roberto Di Matteo
Chelsea made managerial changes midway through both of their Champions League-winning seasons, a decision that ended up turning things around for them.
Roberto Di Matteo stepped in for Andre Villas-Boas, and Thomas Tuchel took over from Frank Lampard. Both moves led to the club’s most significant achievements.
Now, Rosenior is looking to replicate that kind of turnaround in his first season at Stamford Bridge – a run like that would quickly dispel any remaining doubts about his appointment.
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