Sports

PSG vs Chelsea: What managers said and predicted lineups

Joel Masibo 11th March, 2026 07:43 PM

After defeating Monaco in the knockout phase play-offs, the next test for holders Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at the Parc des Princes, Paris.

The first meeting between these two sides, in 2015, was settled by Thiago Silva’s extra-time header, which levelled the aggregate scores at 3-3 but gave PSG the edge on away goals. The French side then won 2-1 home and away in the following year, with Zlatan Ibrahimović on target in both legs.

Much has changed since. Thiago Silva became a Champions League winner with Chelsea in 2021 while Ibrahimović retired in 2023, but both clubs remain every bit as ambitious and talented.

Chelsea are back in action after an impressive league phase tilt, including wins over Barcelona and Napoli, while PSG overcame a dogged Monaco in the play-offs, showing off the knockout phase nous that helped them to their first title last season.

Chelsea players in training ahead of PSG encounter. PHOTO/https://www.facebook.com/ChelseaFC

What managers said

“Winning the first Champions League is very difficult, but for the second everyone knows that we can do it. But it’s still not easy. We know Chelsea very well, we faced them last summer, although they’ve changed coach and players. We know the difficulty of this type of match but we’re aiming to be ready to win,” Luis Enrique, PSG coach said.

“We prefer to have the ball more than our opponents, but they play very effectively. I hope that we can stay calm. Sometimes in this type of match excess motivation can be a problem. We know what type of match we want to play, and we know how to manage that with our experience.”

“Paris are world class; it would be crazy to say anything else. They have world-class players and a world-class manager, but we do too. We have to remember it’s a two-legged tie, so we need discipline. I’m confident as a person and even more confident in the group. It’s a nice fit. I’m not just talking about these games but what we want to achieve in the long term,” Liam Rosenior, Chelsea coach, said.