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One of the English three will definitely be in the last four. However, the chances of ManYoo joining Liverpool in the last four should be regarded as no better than 50-50, while Chelski look especially vulnerable...
Winners
Liverpool
The proper application of superiority is a handy virtue in combat and Liverpool demonstrated it masterfully in Holland against woeful opponents. Rafa Benitez's side were ruthless, unusually ambitious and clinical. In other words, everything Arsenal should have been a month ago but weren't.
The shame is that not only was the competition debased by such a modest outfit reaching the last eight - the Dutch league leaders equate to a top-six side in the Premiership - but that next Wednesday's headline act also resembles a bye. The armchair supporter should cry his rectangle eyes out at the unfairness of having to chose between watching ManYoo v Roma and Valencia v Chelski on Tuesday, 24 hours before Liverpool (3) v PSV (0) takes top billing.
Drawers
Chelski
Chelski's season continues to splutter on without resolution. The quadruple remains a possibility but after a series of insipid displays it is a subject steadily being reduced to the type of theoretical musing which asks whether an aeroplane can take off from a very fast treadmill.
Full of graft but little craft, Chelski continue to huff and puff only to remain grounded. Only when Cashley Cole plagiarised a page of Wimbledon's Route One manual did they momentarily threaten to blow Valencia's house down. Their effort and exertion is remarkable, but it will not be sufficient to conquer Europe. The side-effects are also being felt: Mourinho's side look exhausted.
The Special One, as always, cut a nonchalant figure after Didier Drogba rescued a draw, yet the challenge that awaits in Spain cannot be regarded lightly. Valencia haven't lost any of their last eight matches to English opposition and this particular team could well be the best of that era.
To progress, Chelski will have to score in the Estadio Mestalla. If only it was that simple. The Blues have never looked so unlikely to score goals during the entirety of Mourinho's flagging leadership. Didier Drogba's equaliser, for instance, can be looked at in two ways: either as his 30th goal of the season or his first in seven matches. It is equally telling that Valencia offered more shots on goal than their hosts at Stamford Bridge, winning that particular duel three to two.
The absence of Arjen Robben is being keenly felt and the return of Joe Cole, introduced as a substitute last night, cannot yet compensate for the Dutchman's season-ending injury. Mourinho's team urgently requires an injection of flair but Cole will not be able to provide more than a brief cameo next week. After six months out, a further six days of good health will not produce a dramatic improvement in his fitness levels.
Jose Mourinho
The Chelski manager has already made plans in the event of his side failing to progress next Tuesday.
"If we win, we go to the semi-finals; if we don't, I already have tickets to take my kids to the wrestling at Earls Court," he announced at his press conference with trademark insouciance.
Three years ago, such impudence carried a novel charm. Even by mid-2006 it had become wearisome - and not just for the Chelski board. If Mourinho's side fail to progress then he would be well advised to make long-lasting plans for enjoying life outside of London.
Losers
ManYoo
Euphoria at avoiding a catastrophe could be illusory and a sober assessment of ManYoo's prospects of reaching the last four of the Champions League should conclude with a 50-50 prognosis. Taken in the context of Paul Scholes' idiocy, which left his team-mates numerically disadvantaged for almost an hour, a 2-1 defeat in Rome was a reasonable result. Taken in the context of a knock-out tie, it has given the Premiership league leaders an uphill task. A bullet was dodged, but ManYoo may have suffered a fatal blow nonetheless.
Roma will travel to Manchester next week full of belief and with the endorsement of history: ManYoo have crashed out of the European Cup on each of the five previous occasions they have lost a first-leg tie. Sir Alex Ferguson has called on the Old Trafford crowd to become his team's "12th man", but he will not be able to call upon his best defender, his best left-back, nor his best midfielder. Dare it be mentioned that Scholes' probable replacement is Darren Fletcher?
At least ManYoo have an away goal, courtesy of Wayne Rooney's emphatic finish, on their side, along with Cristiano Ronaldo. The winking winger thoroughly vindicated his pre-match billing as Europe's best player with another scintillating display in the Stadio Olimpico. Ronaldo will be the pivotal player next week - if Roma can stop him then they will surely stop ManYoo from progressing.
Paul Scholes
Following his latest outbreak of reckless irresponsibility, one newspaper has declared that 'it is high time someone at Old Trafford had a serious word with Scholes'. It is far too late for that.
Everyone who knows anything about football will know that Paul Scholes cannot tackle. It is an immutable fact of ginger footballing life that Steve McClaren is always in possession of a water bottle and Paul Scholes cannot tackle. Unfortunately, the only person who appears to be in ignorance of these undeniable truths is Paul Scholes.
No matter that his recklessness cost him a place in the 1999 European Cup final, Scholes still does not know better. What would be the point of a 'serious word' when he is apparently deaf to reality? Already just a single booking away from suspension, Scholes committed three careless fouls in the opening 20 minutes, all of which could have produced a booking. His fourth was so wild that it warranted a yellow even if it was his first infringement of the evening.
Pete Gill
Winners
Liverpool
The proper application of superiority is a handy virtue in combat and Liverpool demonstrated it masterfully in Holland against woeful opponents. Rafa Benitez's side were ruthless, unusually ambitious and clinical. In other words, everything Arsenal should have been a month ago but weren't.
The shame is that not only was the competition debased by such a modest outfit reaching the last eight - the Dutch league leaders equate to a top-six side in the Premiership - but that next Wednesday's headline act also resembles a bye. The armchair supporter should cry his rectangle eyes out at the unfairness of having to chose between watching ManYoo v Roma and Valencia v Chelski on Tuesday, 24 hours before Liverpool (3) v PSV (0) takes top billing.
Drawers
Chelski
Chelski's season continues to splutter on without resolution. The quadruple remains a possibility but after a series of insipid displays it is a subject steadily being reduced to the type of theoretical musing which asks whether an aeroplane can take off from a very fast treadmill.
Full of graft but little craft, Chelski continue to huff and puff only to remain grounded. Only when Cashley Cole plagiarised a page of Wimbledon's Route One manual did they momentarily threaten to blow Valencia's house down. Their effort and exertion is remarkable, but it will not be sufficient to conquer Europe. The side-effects are also being felt: Mourinho's side look exhausted.
The Special One, as always, cut a nonchalant figure after Didier Drogba rescued a draw, yet the challenge that awaits in Spain cannot be regarded lightly. Valencia haven't lost any of their last eight matches to English opposition and this particular team could well be the best of that era.
To progress, Chelski will have to score in the Estadio Mestalla. If only it was that simple. The Blues have never looked so unlikely to score goals during the entirety of Mourinho's flagging leadership. Didier Drogba's equaliser, for instance, can be looked at in two ways: either as his 30th goal of the season or his first in seven matches. It is equally telling that Valencia offered more shots on goal than their hosts at Stamford Bridge, winning that particular duel three to two.
The absence of Arjen Robben is being keenly felt and the return of Joe Cole, introduced as a substitute last night, cannot yet compensate for the Dutchman's season-ending injury. Mourinho's team urgently requires an injection of flair but Cole will not be able to provide more than a brief cameo next week. After six months out, a further six days of good health will not produce a dramatic improvement in his fitness levels.
Jose Mourinho
The Chelski manager has already made plans in the event of his side failing to progress next Tuesday.
"If we win, we go to the semi-finals; if we don't, I already have tickets to take my kids to the wrestling at Earls Court," he announced at his press conference with trademark insouciance.
Three years ago, such impudence carried a novel charm. Even by mid-2006 it had become wearisome - and not just for the Chelski board. If Mourinho's side fail to progress then he would be well advised to make long-lasting plans for enjoying life outside of London.
Losers
ManYoo
Euphoria at avoiding a catastrophe could be illusory and a sober assessment of ManYoo's prospects of reaching the last four of the Champions League should conclude with a 50-50 prognosis. Taken in the context of Paul Scholes' idiocy, which left his team-mates numerically disadvantaged for almost an hour, a 2-1 defeat in Rome was a reasonable result. Taken in the context of a knock-out tie, it has given the Premiership league leaders an uphill task. A bullet was dodged, but ManYoo may have suffered a fatal blow nonetheless.
Roma will travel to Manchester next week full of belief and with the endorsement of history: ManYoo have crashed out of the European Cup on each of the five previous occasions they have lost a first-leg tie. Sir Alex Ferguson has called on the Old Trafford crowd to become his team's "12th man", but he will not be able to call upon his best defender, his best left-back, nor his best midfielder. Dare it be mentioned that Scholes' probable replacement is Darren Fletcher?
At least ManYoo have an away goal, courtesy of Wayne Rooney's emphatic finish, on their side, along with Cristiano Ronaldo. The winking winger thoroughly vindicated his pre-match billing as Europe's best player with another scintillating display in the Stadio Olimpico. Ronaldo will be the pivotal player next week - if Roma can stop him then they will surely stop ManYoo from progressing.
Paul Scholes
Following his latest outbreak of reckless irresponsibility, one newspaper has declared that 'it is high time someone at Old Trafford had a serious word with Scholes'. It is far too late for that.
Everyone who knows anything about football will know that Paul Scholes cannot tackle. It is an immutable fact of ginger footballing life that Steve McClaren is always in possession of a water bottle and Paul Scholes cannot tackle. Unfortunately, the only person who appears to be in ignorance of these undeniable truths is Paul Scholes.
No matter that his recklessness cost him a place in the 1999 European Cup final, Scholes still does not know better. What would be the point of a 'serious word' when he is apparently deaf to reality? Already just a single booking away from suspension, Scholes committed three careless fouls in the opening 20 minutes, all of which could have produced a booking. His fourth was so wild that it warranted a yellow even if it was his first infringement of the evening.
Pete Gill
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