European tour

I normally ignore the European games until the Quarter Finals, I can't keep up with all those group games and when I have Stockport at home and Colchester away to occupy me, why would I pay any interest to Milan, United, Barca and PSG?

Anyway let's have a little look at who are left in the Champions League then. No Chelsea *holds hand over mouth to cover smirk* Oh dear Roman, money can't buy you love or the Champions League trophy so it seems.

The Special One was muted in his celebrations, which is always nice to see, but over two legs Inter were worthy winners and one has to wonder where the Blues go now with an ageing squad, a massive wageroll and a youth academy that hasn't produced a player of note since the Russian took over and spent a fortune on 140 acres at Cobham, not forgetting Frank Arneson, the supposed guru of youth football.

Two English sides are in the last 8 and avoided each other in the draw. United who's defeat of Milan had experts announcing the death of Serie A before Mourinho stepped in, play old adverseries and Bundesliga leaders Bayern but Arsenal have the toughest draw against favourites Barcelona, who have been in fearsome form. Will Thierry celebrate when he handballs the winner into the net?

The French will be disappointed that Bordeaux and Lyon were drawn together whilst Inter take on surprises CSKA Moscow, who did win European silverware with their Uefa Cup victory in 2005.

The last 8 of the Europa League contains Fulham, a club (sorry Steve) I have hated since Mohamed Al-Fayed pranced in with his green plastic bag in 1997, although to his credit he has stayed the course unlike some of his peers. Despite my personal feelings like everyone else I was in awe of Roy Hodgson and the Fulham team that took apart the mighty Juventus last week and they now play German champions (although struggling this season) Vfl Wolfsburg from the north of the country and incidentially 100% owned by Volkswagen.

Fellow Germans Hamburg play Standard Leige, Valencia play Atletico in an all La Liga tie whilst Liverpool interupt their relegation battle to take on Benfica.