Four Ghanaian players await CL last 16 draw

Four Ghanaian players who ply their trade in the top leagues of Europe will find out their Champions League last 16 opponents when the draw is made on Monday.

Michael Essien‘s Chelsea will avoid some of Europe’s most illustrious teams as they will be among the eight seeded teams after finishing top of their group. The midfielder who has not played for the English side in the previous stage, is hoping coach Jose Mourinho will live up to his promise of registering him for the last 16.

Emmanuel Frimpong‘s Arsenal and Manchester City are unseeded and could draw Bayern Munich, Barcelona or Real Madrid in the first knockout stage. No team from the same country can draw each other.

Chelsea will face a two-legged tie against either Sulley Muntari‘s AC Milan, Bayer Leverkusen, Galatasaray, Olympiakos or Zenit St Petersburg.

They cannot draw Kevin-Prince Boateng‘s Schalke from the pot of runners-up as they were in the same group – while the other two teams are Arsenal and Manchester City. “In the second position we have difficult teams,” said Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho. “We have the Russian champions, we have the Greek champions.

“Leverkusen, as a German team, is always difficult. We have the Turkish champions with King Didier (Drogba).

“And Milan is Milan. They only won seven times. It’s hard.”

Manchester United’s possible opponents are the same apart from the fact they can draw Schalke instead of Bayer Leverkusen, who were in the same group as the Old Trafford club.

United beat Shakhtar Donetsk to confirm top spot in Group A and manager David Moyes said: “I think we could be classed as one of the favourites. “We’ll have to improve in order to progress. A club like Manchester United has to be trying to win the trophy.”

Arsenal will face Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, reigning champions Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid.

City’s list of opponents is the same apart from Bayern Munich, who finished above them in the group stages, are replaced by Borussia Dortmund, who pipped Arsenal to the top of their group.

City beat Bayern Munich 3-2 in their final Group D game and could have topped their group had they won 4-2.