Sir Alex Ferguson's team denied Chelsea a first European Champion Clubs' Cup in a dramatic penalty shoot-out in Moscow three years ago, and the London club will have a shot at revenge next month. While Chelsea are reigning English champions, United currently lead them by nine points in the Premier League and have history on their side in the competition having been crowned Europe's finest three times.
The Inter-Schalke encounter has fewer precedents, but having required a late goal to edge out FC Bayern München in the round of 16 the Nerazzurri will not take German opposition lightly. Older fans will need no reminder that the teams have met at the business end of a major European competition before, Schalke beating Inter in Italy in the 1997 UEFA Cup final on penalties.
Nine-time trophy winners Real Madrid CF will come up against Tottenham Hotspur FC in their first quarter-final since 2003/04, after Cristiano Ronaldo's wish that "maybe it would be better to come up against Barcelona further down the line" was granted.
The Spanish rivals could yet face off in the last four, however, as the winners of their tie will take on whichever side prevails between FC Barcelona and quarter-final debutants FC Shakhtar Donetsk.
Quarter-final draw (5/6 and 12/13 April)
Real Madrid CF (ESP) v Tottenham Hotspur FC (ENG)
Chelsea FC (ENG) v Manchester United FC (ENG)
FC Barcelona (ESP) v FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
FC Internazionale Milano (ITA) v FC Schalke 04 (GER)
Semi-final draw (26/27 April and 3/4 May)
1: Inter/Schalke v Chelsea /Manchester United
2: Madrid/Tottenham v Barcelona/Shakhtar
Final (28 May, Wembley)
Winner semi-final 2 v Winner semi-final 1
I am confident that the Red devils will progress to the semi-finals of the Champions League. We have upset Chelsea before and we can do it again.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.