Mauricio Pochettino's future as manager of Paris Saint-Germain was all but decided following his team's 3-2 aggregate loss to Real Madrid in the 2021-2022 UEFA Champions League round of 16. Pochettino took over as PSG manager on January 2, 2021, succeeding Thomas Tuchel. On a personal level, the Argentine coach has had a successful time at PSG, winning three trophies, including the Ligue 1 title in the 2021–2022 season. However, PSG want Champions League glory, a trophy they have never won. PSG have opted to break ties with its current manager, Mauricio Pochettino, after he failed to motivate the French team to win Europe's most coveted club championship. Let's take a look at the potential successors to Mauricio Pochettino at PSG. Six Potential Candidates to Replace Mauricio Pochettino at Paris Saint-Germain The PSG hierarchy is now getting frustrated with the way the club has performed over the years, especially in the Champions League. They have invested heavily in bringing superstar footballers to the club in recent seasons after winning the most prestigious club competition in Europe. However, they have yet to win the competition. The only time they were so close to winning the competition was in 2020, when they lost the final to Bayern Munich 1-0. Read Which South American Footballers Scored Five Goals in a Single Match Except Messi? The Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain were hopeful when they appointed Pochettino as their new manager in early 2021. However, the Argentine head coach failed to meet the expectations and was eliminated from the round of 16 in last season’s Champions League. It seems his termination is on the cards and he can be sacked at any time in the month of June. Here are a few prospective Mauricio Pochettino’s replacements. Joachim Low Former German national team head coach Joachim Low is on PSG’s radar as a potential replacement for Mauricio Pochettino. He won the World Cup with Germany in 2014, so Joachim knows how to inspire a team to win big trophies. However, as per sources, PSG will consider other options first before turning to Joachim Low. Major Success:  DFB-Pokal (1), FIFA World Cup (2014), FIFA Confederations Cup (2017). Read FIFA World Cup 2022: Meet Wales and Other Qualified European teams Thiago Motta Former PSG player Thiago Motta is a huge fan favourite and could be an ideal option for a long-term plan. Motta played for Paris Saint-Germain as a midfielder from 2012 to 2018 and helped them win multiple trophies. Since retirement, Thiago Motta has taken coaching as his next profession. He helped Italian side Spezia Calcio avoid relegation from Serie A in the 2021–2022 season. However, PSG want a more renowned coach who can take the club to the next level. Major Success:  N/A Thomas Tuchel Thomas Tuchel was sacked as PSG manager in January 2021. Within three weeks, Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard as Chelsea manager. In the same season, Tuchel guided Chelsea to win their second UEFA Champions League trophy. If they fail to attract other options, PSG may turn their attention to bringing Thomas once again to the club. Major Success:  DFB-Pokal (2017), Ligue 1 (2019.2020), UEFA Champions League (2021). Read Summer Football Transfer Window 2022: Potential Big Moves Antonio Conte Antonio Conte did a great job with Tottenham Hotspur in the 2021–2022 season, helping his side to finish fourth in the Premier League points table. Conte is a renowned coach who has had notable success with some of the big clubs in Europe. This Italian mastermind is PSG’s one major target to replace Pochettino. Major Success:  Serie A (2012, 2013, 2014, 2021), Premier League (2017) Jose Mourinho Mourinho is regarded as one of the world's best coaches in the last twenty years. He has won Champions League titles with Inter Milan and Porto. In addition, Mourinho has had notable domestic success with multiple European giants. Recently, he won the inaugural edition of the UEFA Europa Conference League with AS Roma. PSG could consider Mourinho as a good option to replace Pochettino. Major Success:  Primeira Liga (2003, 2004), Premier League (2005,2006,2015), Serie A (2009,2010), La Liga (2012), UEFA Europa League (2017), UEFA Europa Conference League (2022), UEFA Champions League (2004,2010). Read Who Bagged the Maximum Trophies in Football So Far? Zinedine Zidane PSG’s number one target to replace Mauricio Pochettino is Zinedine Zidane. The former French international will be a perfect fit for the role as he has won UCL multiple times and can manage egos in the dressing room. One of the biggest obstacles to bringing Zidane to PSG is that he is from Marseille and supports the club. Besides, Marseille is a direct rival of PSG. However, recent reports suggest that Paris Saint-Germain are very close to signing Zinedine Zidane as French President Emmanuel Macron has requested him to join the club. Major Success:  La Liga (2017,2020), UEFA Champions League (2016, 2017, 2018). Verdict Mauricio Pochettino's ability to manage superstar footballers such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar has been questioned. When the opponent is on the attack, neither player is reluctant to back to the defense line. In modern football, all players must defend in order to increase defensive cohesion. Aside from that, his tactical adjustments in key games for PSG haven't worked out. This is why his team was unable to go past the knockout stages in both the 2021 and 2022 Champions Leagues. Read Argentina vs Italy: Seven Major Takeaways from the Historic 2022 Finalissima PSG are currently on the hunt for someone who has success in the Champions League. With this in mind, the former Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane may be an excellent choice for the job. As a Real Madrid manager, he has won the Champions League three times. On the whole, Antonio Conte, Joachim Low, Thiago Motta, Thomas Tuchel, and Jose Mourinho all are eligible to bring stability in Paris Saint-Germain club as a replacement of Mauricio Pochettino. Let's see, who can finally become PSG's next head coach.

The group stage of the UEFA Champions League 2021-2022 season finally concluded with a match between Villarreal and Atalanta on December 9 (Thursday). Villarreal qualified for the Round of 16 after defeating Atalanta 3-2, and they will be joined by 15 other teams for the first knockout round draw in Switzerland on Monday, December 13th. It's possible that PSG and Man United could meet in the Round of 16 of the competition. Let's have a look at the Round of 16 draw scenario for the Champions League 2021-2022.   Group Winners of Champions League 2021-2022 The eight group winners are Manchester City (group A), Liverpool (group B), Ajax (group C), Real Madrid (group D), Bayern Munich (group E), Manchester United (group F), Lille (group G), and Juventus (group H).   Manchester City won Group A with a total of 12 points. The defending English Premier League Champion won four of their six group stage matches. Liverpool finished first in Group B with 18 points after winning all of their games. The Dutch league winner Ajax also won all of their matches in Group C, finishing with 18 points. Real Madrid were stunned at the Bernabeu by Sheriff Tiraspol, but the most successful European team returned to the top of Group D with 15 points.   Bayern Munich won Group E with a total of 18 points. Manchester United got the first position in Group F with 11 points, while Lille took top place in Group G with 11 points. Juventus took the first position in Group H with 15 points. Group Runners-up of Champions League 2021-2022 Paris Saint-Germain (group A), Atletico Madrid (group B), Sporting CP (group C), Inter Milan (group D), Benfica (group E), Villarreal (group F), Red Bull Salzburg (group G), and Chelsea (group H) are the eight group runners-up. PSG finished second in Group A with 11 points. They won three games, drew two games, and lost one. Atletico Madrid finished second in Group B with 7 points. They only won two games, drew one, and lost the other three. Sporting CP finished second in Group C after winning three matches and losing three. The Italian Serie A Champion Inter Milan finished second in Group D with ten points. Portuguese team Benfica defeated Barcelona to finish second in Group E. Spanish team Villarreal finished second in Group F with ten points. Red Bull Salzburg finished second in Group G with ten points. The defending Champions League champion Chelsea finished second in Group H with 13 points. They were two points behind Italian giants Juventus. Potential Round of 16 opponents for PSG and Man Utd Each group's winners are seeded, while the group's runners-up are unseeded. Seeded teams are matched against unseeded ones. Teams from the same group or football federation are not allowed to play each other in the Round of 16.   As per the aforementioned rule, Ajax, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Real Madrid could be PSG's Round of 16 opponents. Therefore, Lionel Messi's Paris Saint-Germain is expected to face a difficult opponent in the next round. On the other hand, PSG, Atletico Madrid, Benfica, Inter Milan, RB Salzburg, and Sporting CP might well be Manchester United's Round of 16 opponents. Given Man Utd’s current form, they would have a tough battle in the first knockout round of the Champions League 2021-2022 season.   Mathematically, Ronaldo's Manchester United has a 20% probability of facing Messi's PSG in the Round of 16. It would be a huge match if these two teams were drawn against one other in the first knockout round.    Aside from that, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, and Inter Milan may face a difficult opponent in the Round of 16 as well. Verdict   Given the outcome of the Champions League group stage in the 2021-2022 season, there is a good chance that the next round will include some tough matches. If Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United meet in the Round of 16, it will be the most anticipated match of the tournament. Because fans will be able to see Messi and Ronaldo play against each other for their new teams. At least two more fascinating Round of 16 matchups are possible in this draw. Overall, the first knockout round of the Champions League 2021-2022 is predicted to be an exciting event in February and March of next year.    

The group stage of the UEFA Champions League 2021-2022 season ended on Wednesday (December 8). A total of 16 teams have advanced to the first knockout round in the most prestigious club football competition in Europe. The ongoing competition's Round of 16 will take place in February 2022. The Champions League's group stage featured a significant number of thrilling matches. Let's take a look at the five best matches from the group stage of the Champions League 2021-2022.   Five Best Matches in Group Stage: UEFA Champions League 2021-2022 Manchester City and PSG from group 1, Liverpool and Atletico Madrid from group B, Ajax and Sporting CP from group C, Real Madrid, and Inter Milan from group D, Bayern Munich, and Benfica from group E, Manchester United and Villarreal/Atalanta from group F, Lille and Red Bull Salzburg from group G, and Juventus and Chelsea from group H are the qualified teams for the Champions League Round of 16. Here are the best five matches in the Champions League 2021-2022 group stage.       5. Young Boys 2-1 Manchester United  On the 14th of September, Young Boys hosted one of Europe's elite clubs Manchester United in their first match of the Champions League group stage. Manchester United were the bookies favorites going into the match, but the host shocked the Red Devils with a 2-1 victory in their own backyard. United's summer signing Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the 13th minute, but Ngamaleu's strike in the 66th minute leveled the score. The game appeared to be heading for a draw until Pefok stunned the visitors in the fifth minute of injury time. Young Boys won a fantastic match against Manchester United thanks to his goal.    4. Real Madrid 1-2 Sheriff Tiraspol Sheriff Tiraspol surprised Real Madrid in their second group stage encounter at home. The most successful team in the UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid were not expecting to lose a point in this tie. Los Blancos were aiming to keep their winning streak going against an infamous Moldovan football team. However, Madrid were baffled when Sheriff took the lead in the 25th minute of the game. Experienced forward Karim Benzema did equalize on a penalty kick in the 65th minute, but Sebastien Thill stunned the Madrid fans by scoring the game-winning goal in the 90th minute.    3. Porto 1-3 Atletico Madrid Both teams needed to win this match in order to progress to the knockout round. Atletico Madrid were in fourth place prior to this match, while Porto and AC Milan were in second and third place, respectively. Atletico Madrid hosted Porto and AC Milan welcomed Liverpool in their final group stage matches. If Porto had defeated Atletico, they would have advanced to the Round of 16. However, Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone used a simple approach in this encounter and won 3-1 against Porto. They played defensively after Griezmann scored in the 56th minute. Later, Correa and De Paul scored two more goals for the Madrid side in injury time. Oliveira of Porto did score in the 96th minute. With this win, Atletico Madrid qualified for the Round of 16 of the Champions League. Even if Milan had beaten Liverpool at home, they would have advanced.     2. Sporting CP 3-1 Borussia Dortmund Sporting CP and Borussia Dortmund were vying for second place in Group C, with Ajax being already qualified for the Round of 16. Therefore, the encounter between Sporting CP and Borussia Dortmund on November 24th was crucial for both teams. Sporting CP moved up to second place after a 3-1 win against Borussia Dortmund. Despite losing 4-2 against Ajax in the last group stage match, Sporting CP have advanced to the first knockout round. On the other hand, Borussia Dortmund will compete in the Europa League.        1.   Barcelona 0-0 Benfica   Barcelona have failed to qualify for the Champions League knockout phase for the first time in 17 years. Barcelona's current team has struggled to compete at the highest level, and they now sit in the seventh position in the La Liga standings. Barcelona needed to beat Benfica in their fifth match in the group stage. However, despite their best efforts, Barcelona were unable to defeat Benfica at Camp Nou. They were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw with the Portuguese side. Benfica advanced to the Round of 16 following a 2-0 win against Dynamo Kyiv. On the other side, Barcelona were eliminated from the Champions League 2021-2022 season after a humiliating 3-0 loss to Bayern Munich.      Bottom Line The Champions League 2021-2022 season's group stage matches featured several nail-biting contests. The outcomes of those games determined the fates of the teams involved. All of them were heavily contested, with the winning side barely deserving of the victory. Hopefully, the Round of 16 would provide more intriguing encounters in the ongoing Champions League.     

The final group stage matches of the UEFA Champions League 2021-2022 will be played on December 7 and 8, respectively. Eleven teams have already qualified for the Round of 16 phase. The remaining five positions are still up for grabs. Therefore, the coming week should be filled with exciting clashes. Let's take a look at the teams who can qualify for the Round of 16 on matchday six of the Champions League group stage.   Champions League 2021-2022: Favourites to advance to the Round of 16 Manchester City, PSG, Liverpool, Ajax, Sporting CP, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Lille, Chelsea, and Juventus are among the teams who have qualified for the Round of 16 in the Champions League. Let's look at the teams who have a chance to move to the first knockout round. Group A Manchester City have won four games and will finish top of the Group A points table. They will remain in the first position regardless of the outcome of their final group stage match against RB Leipzig. PSG will have to settle for second place after losing to Manchester City in the previous match. They will, however, compete in the Round of 16 as well. Club Brugge and RB Leipzig will compete for a Europa League place. Verdict: N/A  Group B Liverpool have qualified from Group B after winning five games in a row. They are the champions of the group. Porto, Milan, and Atletico Madrid will be battling it out for a second-place on matchday six. Porto will play Atletico Madrid, while AC Milan will play Liverpool. Verdict: Atletico Madrid Read Juventus turmoil: Raided by police and struggling in Serie A Group C Ajax have won all of their games thus far and are the group champion, advancing to the Round of 16. Sporting CP are in second place and can qualify if they at least draw their last group stage match against Ajax. Borussia Dortmund can also progress if they defeat Besiktas, but Sporting CP must lose to Ajax. Verdict: Sporting CP Group D Real Madrid and Inter Milan have qualified for the knockout stages from Group D. Both teams will face off for the top spot in the standings on matchday six. Sheriff Tiraspol have also qualified for the Europa League, while Shakhtar Donetsk was knocked out of the group stage. Verdict: N/A Read Ind Cup Football: Mohammedan beat Muktijoddha 2-1 Group E Bayern Munich have finished first in Group E with 15 points. If FC Barcelona lose to Bayern Munich, they are at serious risk of missing out on the Round of 16. Benfica, who are currently in third place, may qualify for the first knockout round if they win their upcoming match against Dynamo Kyiv. Verdict: Benfica Group F Manchester United qualified for the Round of 16 after defeating Villarreal in their previous match. As a result, the match between Villarreal and Atalanta will be a do-or-die contest. Verdict: Villarreal Read Ind Cup Football: Sheikh Russel KC, Sheikh Jamal DC make good start Group G No team has qualified from this group yet. Therefore, both the remaining fixtures of this group will be thrilling affairs. Lille are in top place with eight points, followed by Salzburg, Sevilla, and Wolfsburg. Lille will face Wolfsburg, while Sevilla will face Salzburg on matchday six. Verdict: Lille and Sevilla Group H Chelsea and Juventus have already qualified for the Round of 16 of the Champions League 2021-2022 season. Both teams have 12 points and will play their final group stage matches for the top spot in the standings. Chelsea will face Zenit Saint Petersburg, while Juventus will face Malmo FF on matchday six. Verdict: N/A Read Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal may not qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2022 Verdict Three of the biggest clubs FC Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, and AC Milan are at risk of being eliminated from the Champions League group stage. Aside from that, all of Europe's traditional powerhouses have already qualified for the Round of 16 stage. The 2021-2022 Champions League's first knockout round draw will take place on Monday, December 13. No club will face a team from their UEFA Champions League group or a team from the same national federation, therefore it will be an interesting draw.

The UEFA Champions League 2021/2022 group stage will end in the first week of December. This phase features eight groups and 32 teams. Each group's top two teams will progress to the Round of 16. The first round of the knockout stage will take place in the coming February. Which teams in the group stage have the highest chance of making it to Round 16 in this season's Champions League is discussed in this article. Let's take a look at the latest group phase scenario.   Favorites to advance to the UEFA Champions League 2021-2022 Round of 16  Each team has played three matches so far in the group stage. Let us analyze each group's situation. Group A Paris Saint-Germain have earned seven points in three games and they are currently in first place in Group A. They will almost certainly qualify for the Round of 16 if they win their next match on November 3 against RB Leipzig. Manchester City and Club Brugge are battling it out in Group A for second place. They will face off in their next match, with the winner likely finishing in the top two in the points standings.   Verdict: PSG and Manchester City Read Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo: Who made the strongest start with the new clubs? Group B If group B leader Liverpool win at home against Atletico Madrid on November 3, they will qualify for the Round of 16 in this year’s Champions League. If Liverpool advance, the battle for second place will be between Atletico Madrid and Porto. Both teams have four points in the standings.    Verdict: Liverpool and Atletico Madrid    Group C Dutch team Ajax currently lead Group C with 9 points and they are only one win away from securing a place in the Round of 16. Borussia Dortmund of Germany and Sporting CP of Portugal are both vying for second place. The fate of this group might very well be decided on the last day of group stage fixtures.    Verdict: Ajax and Borussia Dortmund Read AFC U-23 Asian Cup: Bangladesh suffer 0-6 defeat against Uzbekistan Group D Sheriff Tiraspol of Moldova upset Real Madrid with a 2-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabéu. They presently have a 6-point in Group D's point standings. However, the fate of this group will be decided on the final day of the group stage round as Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Sheriff Tiraspol are all in the Round of 16 race.    Verdict: Real Madrid and inter Milan Group E Bayern Munich remained unbeaten in Group E at the end of matchday 3. If Bayern beat Benfica on Tuesday, they will advance to the Round of 16. Then FC Barcelona and Benfica will fight for a second-place finish in this group. It will most likely be determined who finish second in the points standings when both clubs play at the Camp Nou on November 23rd.     Verdict: Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona    Read Who can replace coach Ronald Koeman at FC Barcelona? Group F Manchester United are in first place with six points after three games. Their spot in the Round of 16 is far from certain. Man Utd must fight hard till the end against Villarreal and Atalanta in order to finish top two in the points standings. It will undoubtedly be a fascinating race between them.     Verdict: Manchester United and Villarreal   Group G Red Bull Salzburg have shocked everyone by grasping the lead in Group G's point standings. They have 7 points after three games. If Salzburg defeat Wolfsburg on November 2, they will qualify for the Round of 16 in this year's Champions League. Therefore, Sevilla, Lille, and Wolfsburg will battle it out for a spot in the first knockout round till the end.    Verdict: Red Bull Salzburg and Sevilla   Read Man United humiliated: Salah hat trick in 5-0 Liverpool rout Group H The fight for a spot in the Round of 16 is heating up in Group H. Juventus are presently in first place with 9 points, followed by Chelsea (6 points), and Zenit Saint Petersburg (3 points). If Juventus defeat Zenit on November 2 at home, they will advance to the next round. Verdict: Juventus and Chelsea   Bottom Line When looking at the current situation of each group, it is evident that PSG, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Juventus are in better positions. If they win their next group stage matches, they will all qualify for the Round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League 2021/2022 season. The final games in the group stage generally have a lot of twists and turns. There is a strong possibility of several exciting contests in this season's final few fixtures. However, the team with the best overall performance will advance to the first knockout round of Europe's most popular club-level competition. Read Madrid wins 2-1 at Barcelona in first post-Messi ‘clásico’

The UEFA Champions League 2021-2022 group stage began on September 14. Football fans were treated to some fantastic encounters in the first leg. Manchester City, PSG, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea are among the Champions League favorites this year. If Europe's established giant football clubs do flourish this season, fans may expect to see some spectacular matches in the knock-out stages. Which clubs are favorites in the race to make it to the round of 16 are discussed in this article.   Group Stage Predictions for Champions League 2021-2022 The top two teams from each of the eight groups will advance to the Round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League 2021-2022 season. Let's see who are the favorites in each group to advance to the first knockout round. Group A Four teams including, the English Premier League champion Manchester City, Ligue 1 runner-up Paris Saint-Germain, Belgium's first division champion Club Brugge and Germany’s RB Leipzig are drafted in group A. As per squad depths, Man City and PSG are the two favorites to advance to the Round of 16 from this group. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are probably playing the best brand of football right now, while PSG boast a star-studded squad.   Read SAFF football: Bangladesh leave for Maldives fancying their chances under Bruzon Group B This is considered the group of death, with Liverpool, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, and FC Porto all vying for a place in the top two. Liverpool and Atletico Madrid have better squads than the other two teams. As a result, they have a better shot to advance to the first knockout round.   Group C Four-time European champion Ajax, Sporting CP, Borussia Dortmund, and Turkish club Besiktas are competing in group C. Borussia Dortmund are the favorite to finish top in the points table. Sporting CP and Ajax will battle it out for the second place.  Read PSG vs. Man City: Preview and Prediction Group D The most successful club in the history of the UEFA Champions League Real Madrid do not have the best squad for the 2021-2022 season. However, they have had a strong start of the season and will be a solid contender for their 14th championship triumph. Italian Serie A Champion Inter Milan should finish top two in this group given their current squad depth. While Sheriff Tiraspol and Shakhtar Donetsk will have to put in extraordinary efforts to finish in the top two.   Group E Bayern Munich are the obvious favorites in this group. Bayern's main rival in this group is FC Barcelona. Barcelona's recent performances have been below par, and they have a slim chance of finishing first in the point standings. Portuguese side Benfica have a chance to finish second and they can advance to the Round of 16 by tipping Barcelona. Dynamo Kiev is the other team in this group, and their main goal is to finish top three to qualify for the Europa League. Read Ctg Premier League Football: Customs SC thrash Ctg Police 4-0 Group F Manchester United should progress to the next round from this group since they will be up against Atalanta, Villareal, and Young Boys, all of whom are comparatively weaker opponents. Italy’s Atalanta and the defending Europa League champions Villareal will compete for second place in this group.