Manchester United showed Roma's hooligan Ultra fans what for last night - destroying their team 7-1, United's biggest win in Europe since 1968. It finished as an 8-3 aggregate win.
Chelsea completed what is probably the greatest night for a long time for English football - the Londoners beating Valencia 2-1 in their semi-final, winning 3-2 on aggregate.
This means that an English team will almost certainly be in the European Cup Final for the third season running, as Liverpool will surely reach the semi-final against PSV Eindhoven tonight - Liverpool are 3-0 on aggregate and will play Chelsea in the semi-final.
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Fergie: My greatest ever night
GUNSLINGERS ... Ronaldo and Smith after United’s fifth
By NEIL CUSTIS
April 11, 2007
European Cup, Quarter Final, Second Leg
Manchester United 7-1 Roma
(Manchester United win 8-3 on aggregate)
They will play either AC Milan or Bayern Munich in the semi-final.
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ALEX FERGUSON hailed this seven-goal Euro annihilation as the greatest in his 20-year reign.
Amazing United ripped Roma apart to roar into the Champions League semi-finals and stay on track to repeat the 1999 Treble.
Fergie raved: “In a European sense it’s the greatest night I have had here.
"You never expect a scoreline like that. But the quality of our game was so high that once we scored two or three you felt there was going to be something big here.
“Hopefully this is not a one-off in terms of quality although it is difficult to think you will get so many quality goals like that again.”
Ferguson has now challenged his team to go on and lift silverware this season as they hunt a Premiership, FA Cup and Champions League Treble.
He said: “They have to win something now and the way they are playing, deserve to.”
SHEER DELIGHT ... for boss Fergie
Chelsea joined United in the last four with their superb win in Valencia and Liverpool expect to face the Blues in the semis when they defend a 3-0 lead against PSV Eindhoven tonight.
Fergie admitted: “I think what has happened tonight shows English teams are playing the best football in Europe at the moment.”
It was the first time United have overturned a first-leg Champions League deficit.
Fergie believes the result shows how far his team had come after the last time they met Italian opposition.
They went out to AC Milan two seasons ago in the first knockout round.
He said: “The experience of playing AC Milan two years ago was a disappointment.
“Young players like Rooney and Ronaldo found it difficult against the experience of Milan. But tonight they looked like men.
“The players that have come in have responded to the challenge. The back four did their job well.”
Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Carrick got doubles and Alan Smith, Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra completed the rout.
Ferguson had a special word for Smith, who effectively missed a year of football with a broken ankle.
He said: “Alan Smith has had patience but his enthusiasm spreads through the team. He has kept going and going and got his reward tonight.”
thesun.co.uk
Chelsea completed what is probably the greatest night for a long time for English football - the Londoners beating Valencia 2-1 in their semi-final, winning 3-2 on aggregate.
This means that an English team will almost certainly be in the European Cup Final for the third season running, as Liverpool will surely reach the semi-final against PSV Eindhoven tonight - Liverpool are 3-0 on aggregate and will play Chelsea in the semi-final.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fergie: My greatest ever night
GUNSLINGERS ... Ronaldo and Smith after United’s fifth
April 11, 2007
European Cup, Quarter Final, Second Leg
Manchester United 7-1 Roma
(Manchester United win 8-3 on aggregate)
They will play either AC Milan or Bayern Munich in the semi-final.
---------------------------
ALEX FERGUSON hailed this seven-goal Euro annihilation as the greatest in his 20-year reign.
Amazing United ripped Roma apart to roar into the Champions League semi-finals and stay on track to repeat the 1999 Treble.
Fergie raved: “In a European sense it’s the greatest night I have had here.
"You never expect a scoreline like that. But the quality of our game was so high that once we scored two or three you felt there was going to be something big here.
“Hopefully this is not a one-off in terms of quality although it is difficult to think you will get so many quality goals like that again.”
Ferguson has now challenged his team to go on and lift silverware this season as they hunt a Premiership, FA Cup and Champions League Treble.
He said: “They have to win something now and the way they are playing, deserve to.”
SHEER DELIGHT ... for boss Fergie
Chelsea joined United in the last four with their superb win in Valencia and Liverpool expect to face the Blues in the semis when they defend a 3-0 lead against PSV Eindhoven tonight.
Fergie admitted: “I think what has happened tonight shows English teams are playing the best football in Europe at the moment.”
It was the first time United have overturned a first-leg Champions League deficit.
Fergie believes the result shows how far his team had come after the last time they met Italian opposition.
They went out to AC Milan two seasons ago in the first knockout round.
He said: “The experience of playing AC Milan two years ago was a disappointment.
“Young players like Rooney and Ronaldo found it difficult against the experience of Milan. But tonight they looked like men.
“The players that have come in have responded to the challenge. The back four did their job well.”
Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Carrick got doubles and Alan Smith, Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra completed the rout.
Ferguson had a special word for Smith, who effectively missed a year of football with a broken ankle.
He said: “Alan Smith has had patience but his enthusiasm spreads through the team. He has kept going and going and got his reward tonight.”
thesun.co.uk