José Mourinho has backed United for the quintuple after the defeat of his Internazionale side.
After the first leg in Milan, the tie was delicately balanced at 0-0, although on the return at Old Trafford United went in to the game as favourites to progress due to the home advantage that they would have should the game require extra-time or penalties. Of course on the other hand Inter knew that barring a goal fest from the Red Devils an away goal might just carry them through to the quarter finals.
Nemanja Vidic however had other ideas, obviously not keen on a late night of penalty taking he ruled out that possibility in only four minutes. A United goal mathematically ruled out the possibility of the game going on any further than the 90 minutes - the Serbian scoring a powerful header from around 12 yards out after he was found by Giggs from the corner as good as unmarked.
After such a bright start United seemed to go to sleep for the rest of the half, they became wasteful and let Inter back in to the game. Ibrahimovic could and perhaps should have had three or four himself, but United were saved by the woodwork and by the Swede’s wayward shooting. Had he been on form, United may have been in big trouble.
The Devils did create a few more chances of their own however, John O’Shea found himself through on goal just needing to chip the ‘keeper, who went to ground early, however this proved to be one talent too far for the utility man. You can’t help but think that if that had been Rooney the net would have bulged as the scoreboard changed to 2-0.
After half time, on four minutes (49) United doubled their lead through Cristiano Ronaldo who got on the end of a Rooney cross, delivered with perfection after some great play from Giggs to spark the move, to head past Julio César. 2-0 and United looked good for a place in the quarters. And that’s how it stayed, a convincing victory in the end, just not so sure about the performance.
Moving away from Manchester United it is important to look at the bigger picture of English Football. Although English clubs are not renowned for their sympathy to each other, and most fans would rather see a French team win the CL than one of their Premier League rivals, all four of our entrants have been fantastic ambassadors for the best league in the World. Chelsea dispatched Juve, Arsenal came through against Roma (just), United put Inter to the sword and Liverpool trashed the mighty Real Madrid, 4-0 on the night. The quality of Premier League teams is just astounding. Four out of four teams through to the quarter finals, it must be odds on for another all English Final. And long may it continue, Spain and Italy have had their time in the sun and now it is England’s turn. Bayern, Barca, Porto and Villarreal should be shaking in their boots at the prospect of an English opponent, and I’m hoping they will all get one in the quarters, 2 all English semi finals would be such a great advert for England and for the Premier League.
Toby Bowen
