You don't always get what you deserve in football and United fans know all about that following too many wrong decisions going against their team when playing Chelsea in recent seasons. It was for this reason that many United supporters were hoping that Chelsea's luck had to run out sooner or later and in the Champions League at least anyway, those hopes have been realised because it is United who progressed into the semi-finals for the fourth time in five seasons thanks to goals from Hernandez and Park as United ran out 3-1 winners on aggregate.
Second-half substitute Didier Drogba pulled a goal back to equalise on the night after Hernandez had given United the lead just before half-time, but Park settled the tie and the nerves of the Old Trafford faithful with a sublime finish with just twelve minutes remaining on the clock. It was a pulsating quarter-final but United just about deserved to win following what was a good start by Chelsea who failed to make the most of their chances.
Whether or United are good enough to go much further in this competition is open to debate, but if the Premier League leaders can continue to defend as they have done in this competition this season then they have a chance of progressing to the Wembley final, where in all probability they will meet the favourites Barcelona.
Man of the match: Ryan Giggs. The Welshman once again proved his worth, this time in central midfield where he pulled the strings with the likes of Carrick and Rooney. Giggs created both goals with two superb passes.
Finally, a couple of predictions: Chelsea will drop points at West Brom this coming weekend, they will also implode and offload Drogba and or Torres.
Next up, United face bitter rivals Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday in the FA Cup semi-final. Bring it on.
what chelsea lucky!,what planet are you on,look whats happened to them in the champions league i the last six years is unbelievable bad luck,so forget what rio says what goes around does not always come round,just mind boggling!
ReplyDeleteDavid Luiz should have been sent off in March. The dirty basta*d kicked lumps out of Rooney and Hernandez before he scored. Drogba scored the winning goal at OT last season when he was at least two yards off side. Do you want me to go on?
ReplyDeleteHear hear!
ReplyDelete"Whether or United are good enough to go much further in this competition is open to debate."
Earlier this year on your blog (could have been last year), you feared that City would overtake us in the league, or at the very least give us a challenge. I assured you confidently that there was nothing to worry about.
I do so again; we will reach the final. And yes, on paper Barcelona are better than us, but if the 4 key members of the club are fit (Rooney, Fletcher, Vidic, Van Der Sar), then we will have a good chance. And anyway, if the other semi-final provides a final twist, how sweet would it be to beat Ronaldo's new club in the last and most valuable match of the season!
Jesse,
ReplyDeleteI have to report that I believe City will win on Saturday. While Rooney isn't yet quite back to his very best he isn't far off and without him pulling the strings I can see City edging it at Wemblely. What's more they are due a win against us, but you never know. It will all depend on who turns up on the day.
As for Barcelona. Until last night wasn't aware that they will meet Real Madrid twice before the semi finals and while in theory this should not matter, it might on this occasion. These four games will put heaps and heaps of pressure on all concerned. By the time either of them reaches Wembley they could be mentally fatigued and this in turn might help United. It might well sound like clutching at straws, but I firmly believe this could work in our favour...
But of course first, we have to beat Schalke and going off what I saw last night that will not be easy. They could easily be in the final.
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