Darren Fletcher has been outstanding for them this season, between himself and Carrick, in front of the back four, rotating as one goes pressuring the ball and the other sits in, to stop runners.
Without Fletcher last night, Man Utd had no midfield and being up against three of the best midfielders in the world, you’d have thought the Utd midfield didn’t show up at all!

The game itself was a good one, some excellent Barca passing in midfield, after an early burst from Utd. For once it was a clean game, most players tried to stay on their feet and play the ball.

Another down side for Utd, was their lack of pace around the pitch. They looked unusually lacklustre in pressing the ball. No doubt the resting of players (missing the game against Hull) as is so often the case, cost them on the night, as they were not fresh.
I have never understood why teams drop complete sides, to rest them for big games.
Players need to be match fit to avoid injuries, playing regularly.
When Liverpool came back from 3-0 down against AC Milan, they had been fighting against a backlog of games and chasing trophies, so most of the team played every week, even in midweek games.
They were able to pick up the pace and that changed the game.

When Pool lost to AC Milan in the final two years later, they were rested before the game and looked lethargic during the match, unable to call on match fitness energy that they had previously.
The British way of playing week in week out has paid dividends in the past, as regards European trophies, so why tinker with a winning formula?

Ronaldo’s dramatic efforts to win a free kick, which led to Utd’s second goal against Arsenal last night, was a farce!
I wonder what he would do, if he was at home and he stubs his toe on the coffee table? Would it involve 10 minutes of rolling around on the sofa?
Would his partner rush in with a wet sponge?
Would he then hobble to kitchen, grimacing as he goes and trying to flex his foot to ease the pain?
Do us all a favour and give it a rest!

Problem 2:
Darren Fletcher, (I speak as a Liverpool fan) is a victim of a complete joke.
He has played his part in Man Utd’s season, they have battled through to the European cup final, only for him to be suspended, for winning the ball with a well timed tackle!
Under UEFA rules, Man Utd can only appeal if the referee admits he has made a mistake. The referee will not admit his mistake, despite clear video evidence that his decision was completely wrong!

At the speed of the game and where the ref is on the pitch, mistakes can be made, sending him off was bad enough, giving Arsenal a penalty was even worse, but suspending him from the biggest single game of his career (One of the biggest games in any player’s career) and refusing to reverse the decision, makes a mockery of UEFA.

The lad made a perfectly timed tackle, come on UEFA, step in and put this right, then change the rules, before it happens to any other player!

Do you think Darren Fletcher should miss out on the final?

For Utd, a Ronaldo thunderbolt in the 6th minute saw them win, an impressive feat, against a Porto side that are very strong at home. Despite a very nervy last 10 minutes, Utd held on to keep a clean sheet, something they have struggled to do of late and close out the match.
Their opponents in the semis will be the impressive Arsenal!
They beat Villarreal 3-0 at the Emirates stadium, all the more impressive as they had lost most of their defenders for the game, they are quietly creeping up, on a long unbeaten run in both league and cups.
My tip for the FA Cup this year are beginning to assert themselves on opponents, and with Chelsea, Liverpool and Man Utd all still to play them in the league, they can cause a few worries.

Chelsea will play Barcelona in the other semi final, after an epic 4-4 draw with Liverpool at Stamford bridge.
Puzzling for me, as the pool took off Torres and Mascharano, just as they were getting back into the game, two of the players most likely to turn the game!
As good a fight as pool put up, the damage was clearly done in the first leg, Chelsea winning 3-1 at Anfield.
The one disappointment for me was the amount of times Drogba fell to the ground as if he’d been shot, only to jog away fine once the free kick had been given.
There is no place for this in English football, something needs to be done about it, once or twice, 50-50 challenges fair enough, but look at the free kicks he won last night, clearly he is playing on it.

The man of the match for me, was once again, Frank Lampard, his ability to pop up in the box late in the attack and his natural ability to hit the target is not being used to its maximum on the international scene. Like his dad, he is a quality player.

Barcelona make up the last four, after an easy win against Bayern Munich, a big win in the first leg made last nights game a formality.
As so often happens, the one odd team in the last four, normally goes on to win it.
Three English teams in the last four again, it wouldn’t surprise me if the only non English team wins it!

I can’t help but wonder how Liverpool can beat Real Madrid 4-0, Man Utd 4-1 (at home) then dominate Aston Villa 5-0, are then well beaten at Anfield against a Chelsea team, who whilst a strong side, haven’t scored a single goal against us in the league this season, (pool have beaten them 1-0 and 2-0 in the league) it’s very strange.

How will this affect the league title race?
It could blow any remote hopes of a title win out of the water (yet again) or it could work in reverse and be a blessing in disguise, allowing us to focus on the league championship at last (our “bread and butter.”)

Sir Bob Paisley, we need your help!

On the otherside of the draw, Man Utd will play FC Porto, the winners of this tie will play the winner of Arsenal v Villarreal at the semi final stage.

Ties will be played 7/8 April with return legs played on 14/15 April.

There are no easy ties at this stage of the competition, but with Barcelona and Bayern Munich having impressive wins in the last round, the English clubs will be relieved they are playing each other and not them!
If three English teams reach the semis, I’ll be putting a few earth pounds on the one non English team left, as is often the case, the one team not expected to win, often does.

Liverpool:
Despite looking strong and playing well against Real Madrid, I cannot see them progressing past the semi-final stages (sadly for me) – Benitez has been earning his living from the European cup for far too long – the league is our “bread and butter.”

Man Utd:
Yes despite the historic rivalry, without playing especially well against Inter Milan, they deserved to go through to the quarter finals. I watched half their game in the first leg, they should have made the tie safe there. As much as I’d like to see them go out at the semi final stages, I think they’ll at least reach the final. If they do, then I hope Wellback, Carrick and the like get a look in as they are playing well.

Chelsea:
Can they hold their nerve this time around?
They scraped through to the final by the skin of their teeth last time against the pool, heart breaking for a pool fan, especially the way they got there (own goal by riise) but they did break the jinx that Liverpool had over them in semi finals.
Although Juventus are not the force they once were, any result in Italy against an Italian team, is a good result. Has Hiddink come just in time to save their season?
They deserve their place, possible finalists I think.

Arsenal:
Their win over Roma was the best news of the round for me. I can take or leave Arsenal, they don’t really bother me either way, but when I watched the text updates on BBC live text, saying their tie was going to a penalty shoot-out, I worried for them.
Penalties are a complete lottery, so when the first kick was saved, I feared the worst for them.
I remember watching them in the final and losing out, they didn’t do themselves justice at all, love them or hate them, they always try to play attacking, flowing football.
In Arsene Wenger, they have one of the most knowledgable managers in the Premier League. If the doubters got their way and he left the club, then Arsenal would really be in trouble.
Semi finalist this year I think, but well worth their place there – hopefully!

The Real defence let a long ball bounce and it looped over the Real number 3, who turned to face his own goal with Kuyt and Torres breathing down his neck, Torres touched his shoulder momentarily and he went down, Kuyt took a touch and pulled the ball back along the 6 yard box, where Torres or Gerrard were waiting to pounce unmarked. The keeper had no chance.

Liverpool continued to look sharp, closing down well and forcing mistakes in Real’s passing game.

Steven Gerrard scores Liverpool's second

Real started to come back into the game a bit more, ex Portsmouth player Diarra looks impressive bringing the ball out of defence and rarely misplaces a pass.
Real playing much better as half time arrives.

Liverpool flew out of the blocks again at the start of the second half, looking dangerous on the break, a sweeping move had the ball at babel’s feet, for once he hit the byline and dinked in a left foot cross, which bounced right in front of the “running from deep” Gerrard who controlled it brilliantly first time to fire into the roof of the net.

Real didn’t switch off and came back at liverpool more and more going close on a number of occasions, the ball just wouldn’t go in for them, and when it finally did, they had two players offside!
Real’s passing game through the middle was causing Liverpool problems every time they came forward, Lucas came on, but had little effect, until Liverpool brought on the pocket rocket!
Jay Spearing, who has been with the club since he was seven years old and captained the youth team to the youth cup, from the position of centre back stemmed the flow of attacks through the middle!

Box to box he played, any pool fans remember sammy lee in his playing days – exactly the same he is. A tigerish midfielder with a great engine and an eye for finding spaces in the opponents half, he had the crowd chanting his name after 20 minutes!

Pool swept up field to score a fourth, Dossena making up for his booking, getting free in the box, firing under the keeper’s hand to make it 4-0.

All in all a very satisfying game for the pool, who move into the last eight.
I would still question why Torres can’t be lazy, whilst sitting on the last man in defence, of the four times he did it in the second half, he did this, he got clear twice and won free kicks the other two times.
This was the sharpest I’ve seen him in a long time, perhaps he is now fit?
Arbeloa had a cracking game, very solid, Mascherano will be missing for the next round as he picked up a yellow card and will be suspended.
Lets hope that Liverpool avoid English opposition in the next round, with Chelsea coming through their away leg against Juventus, Man Utd looking unstoppable and Arsenal on a run, the one danger team looks to be Bayern Munich, who followed up their 5-0 first leg win with a 7-1 thrashing of Sporting Lisbon!