vallierojas: Chelsea draw Man Utd while Mourinho's Madrid await Spurs

Friday, March 18, 2011

Chelsea draw Man Utd while Mourinho's Madrid await Spurs

? Pair to meet in Europe for first time since 2008 final
? Tottenham paired with Jos� Mourinho's Real Madrid

Chelsea will face Manchester United in an all-English Champions League quarter-final.

The pair were pitted against each other during today's draw in Nyon. It will be the first time they have met in Europe since the 2008 final in Moscow, which United won on penalties.

England's other representative, Tottenham, were rewarded for knocking out Milan in the last round with a fixture against one of the continent's other elite clubs ? Jos� Mourinho's Real Madrid.

The two other ties see the holders Internazionale face Schalke while the favourites Barcelona meet Shakhtar Donetsk. The winner of Chelsea and United's tie will face either Inter or Schalke in the semi-finals while Spurs, should they overcome Real, could then be paired with Barcelona in the last four.

Javier Hern�ndez, whose two goals steered United past Marseille in the last-16 stage, admits Chelsea will provide Sir Alex Ferguson's men with a "tough" challenge in the quarter-finals, but it is not one he in scared of.

"We play in the same league and it is going to be tough," said the Mexico striker. "Stamford Bridge is a nice stadium and it makes it a little bit like a league game. But if there is an advantage that we are at home in the second game."

Meanwhile Carlo Ancelotti, the Chelsea manager, believes victory over United will allow his players to gain revenge for their painful defeat in Moscow three years ago. He said: "We have four games to reach the final in London. If Chelsea reached the final there, we'd have a good revenge for 2008."

The Italian was also pragmatic at the prospect of facing Sir Alex Ferguson's men in another crucial match this season. He added: "I'm not happy, I am not disappointed. I am realistic. They are a team we know very well and they know us very well.

"For English football, it's good ? last season no English teams were in the semi-finals. This year, one team or two teams will be in the semi-finals."

It will be two teams should Spurs beat the odds and progress past Real. Their manager, Harry Redknapp, is certainly excited about the prospect of facing the nine-times European Cup winners.

"It's a fantastic draw. What a game to look forward to against one of the greatest clubs in world football," he said. "You have to look forward to games like this. These are the great days in your life and great days in Tottenham's history. We'll go there and give it a real go and you couldn't have a more exciting or tougher game.

"I've said all along that the two Spanish clubs were, for me, the favourites to win it. We've drawn Real Madrid, who are pushing Barcelona all the way for the championship with big players and a fantastic manager. In my opinion, he [Mourinho] is one of the all-time greats. He was amazing for English football when he came.

"But we've got a chance against anyone. We feel we can play against anyone and give them a game."

The first legs of the quarter-final ties will be played on 5-6 April with the return games taking place a week later.