Managers react after the Round of 16 Champions League draw

Barcelona got by Arsenal in the 2011 round of 16 with a 4 – 3 aggregate, and moved on to take the Champions League title in that campaign.

Despite Chelsea’s struggles in the Premier League this season, PSG defender Thiago said: “It will be tougher this season than past year”.

In midfield, Willian (five goals, one assist) is included after playing a key role for Chelsea as they took top spot in Group G, while Raheem Sterling (three goals, one assist) makes the cut after Manchester City edged out Juventus to finish first in Group D.

Manchester City supporters will not be able to attend the away leg in Ukraine with Dynamo Kiev serving a stadium ban.

The Catalan club eliminated Arsenal from the knockout stages of the Champions League in both 2010 and 2011, but Miles is optimistic the Premier League side can spring a surprise.

Contrast that with Chelsea, who seem capable of losing any match they play this season and frequently do – most alarmingly with last weekend’s reversal at home to Bournemouth. “We’re two sides with a similar understanding of the game”, said Barca director Albert Soler.

Manchester City, meanwhile, have a real chance this time as they face Dynamo Kiev in the last 16. “The truth is that Juventus and PSG were two teams we didn’t want to draw“, he admitted as quoted by Sport.

They were, somewhat inevitably, put in their place by Barca back in Catalonia, but these last-16 clashes offer Wenger the ideal opportunity to show the watching world that he and his side have evolved since then.

In-form Barcelona sits at the top of the Spanish league despite drawing its last two matches, and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has to work out how to achieve the seemingly impossible – keeping attackers Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar quiet. The England side have failed to dominate things in the competition in the last few years, often because they’ve faced tougher opponents in the final 16.

They can take inspiration from Deportivo La Coruna, who came back from two goals down to hold Barca to a 2-2 draw last Saturday. We must have maximum respect for Arsenal, they’re a great team and although we have a hard task ahead it will be a guaranteed spectacle of football. Fernandez admits that the Gunners can be risky, but is confident the reigning champions will coast through to the next round. They have a very good team, magnificent players and play good football. After complaining of hayfever in the first leg, he was red-carded for a high kick in the return. But we are improving and gaining experience in the competition.

Still, there was one fresh look in the eight pairings as the two newcomers to the knockout rounds were drawn together: Gent will host Wolfsburg first in Belgium.

“We were hoping for a good draw today and I think it’s probably the tie of the round”, he told reporters at the draw. Gary Neville’s Valencia were drawn against Rapid Vienna.