CL: Semi Final Views

Now we know who will be battling it out for the Champions League trophy come Wednesday 21st May. Chelsea and Manchester United will face each other in the first ever all-English final in the competition. For Chelsea, it's their first time at this stage. For Manchester United, it's 50 years on since the Munich air disaster. In the coming weeks I will be building up towards this historical occassion. For now, let's look back on the games that got them there.


On Tuesday night Manchester United knocked out Barcelona, thanks to a wonder goal from Paul Scholes. How fitting that it was Scholes, who missed out on the 1999 Champions League triumph due to suspension, that got his team into the final. Barcelona again had the possession, but couldn't make it count where it mattered. Another masterclass in defending from Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown meant that it was never going to happen for the Spanish side. Despite missing Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic, United showed passion and professionalism to ensure they would be going to Moscow. Carlos Tevez defended from the front, harrassing the Barcelona backline into making mistakes. Ji-Sung Park didn't stop running for the whole game, covering every blade of grass in order to help his team. It was a deserved victory for the Red Devils. You can't help but feel that it is written in the stars for Manchester United to win the competition, as it was 50 years ago that the football world stood still following the Munich air disaster. Their first final in nine years, it would take a brave man to bet against them.


The following night Sir Alex Ferguson learnt that Chelsea would be their opponents in Moscow. Avram Grant's side beat Liverpool 3-2 after extra time, in a game high in excitement and emotion. Two goals from Didier Drogba and a penalty from Frank Lampard sent Chelsea into their first ever Champions League final. Both men had been making headlines before the game, both men responded in the perfect way. Drogba was a handful for the Liverpool defense all night, and the celebration that followed his first strike showed what it meant to him. Lampard showed tremendous character to convert the extra-time spot kick, after the week he's had. In the end Chelsea produced the sort of performance that would have certainly entertained Roman Abramovich, who can now look forward to going back to Russia later this month. Avram Grant has received a lot of criticism this season, with many believing he couldn't follow Jose Mourinho. But now he has done something 'The Special One' could never do. Beat Liverpool to reach a Champions League final. Now they are there, and determined to win the one trophy missing from the Chelsea cabinet.