Chelsea travel to Old Trafford this evening knowing only victory will suffice as they seek to sooth the pain of losing to Manchester United in the 2008 Champions League Final.
The Blues’ dramatic shoot-out loss in Moscow will hurt all the more for the realisation that captain John Terry needed only to beat Edwin van der Sar from the spot to hand Chelsea – and London – their first-ever Champions League crown.
But he choked; slipped, hit the outside of a post and the tears flowed.
Tonight, Terry and Chelsea can dampen the despair of that rain-soaked rendevouz in Moscow, as well as the feeling of injustice induced by Luis Garcia’s phantom goal for Liverpool in 2005 and Andres Iniesta’s last-gasp clincher for Barcelona in 2009.
One-nil and they can force extra time. Victory by any other score-line will see them progress to a likely last four meeting with mid-table Bundesliga outfit Schalke - and leave them confident of reaching UEFA’s second Saturday-night showpiece at Wembley on May 28.
Meanwhile, United will feel well-placed to secure a fourth semi final berth in five years, as they defend a one-nil, first-leg lead.
Both teams go into the game in fine physical fettle with Brazilian right-back Rafael da Silva United’s only doubt and Chelsea boosted by boasting a fully-fit squad for the first-time this campaign.
Saturday saw the return to action of centre-back Alex and Israeli schemer Yossi Benayoun and the Blues may well start with both tonight.
Alex’s return to partner Terry at the heart of the defence would allow Blues' boss Carlo Ancelotti to switch Branislav Ivanovic to right-back and relegate Jose Bosingwa to the bench. The Portuguese fullback has been a weak link in recent weeks and against the touchline trickery of Nani and Antonio Valencia, the Serb offers the more solid option.
Fernando Torres is expected to start and would no doubt prefer former Liverpool team-mate Benayoun to provide the bullets. It is surely safe to assume Frank Lampard and Michael Essien will start in midfield. Beyond that the permutations are plentiful.
After their Stamford Bridge success last week, United are likely to keep faith with Javier Hernandez to lead the line. Wayne Rooney will again drop deep to add ballast to the midfield battleground, before bursting forward at every opportunity.
So I’d go like-for-like, play Ramires alongside Lampard and Essien in midfield and have Benayoun and Anelka supporting Torres from the left and right flanks respectively.
But however Chelsea line-up, they will know their mission in Manchester is clear-cut – beat the Premier League leaders.
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