Gianluca Vialli is bracing himself for a heavyweight showdown with Manchester United after Chelsea's defeat by Lazio set up the chance of an all-Premiership quarter-final in the Champions' League. The Blues boss said there was little to choose between playing United, Barcelona or Bayern Munich. Vialli's men must beat one of the big three if they are to reach the semi-finals of the competition after losing 2-1 to Lazio in their final Group D game at Stamford Bridge last night.
Vialli said, "It's going to be very exciting. We will be playing against one of Europe's great clubs with great players and great histories. If we play Manchester United, then the country is sure to have one team in the semi-final. If we don't play them, both teams have a chance to play in the semi-final. Choosing between those three is like choosing to fight Mike Tyson, Cassius Clay or George Foreman".
Chelsea go into tomorrow's quarter-final draw in Switzerland, which will also establish the semi-final line-up, as one of the four unseeded teams after the 2-1 defeat saw them qualify behind group winners Lazio. Gustavo Poyet had fired Chelsea into a half-time lead at Stamford Bridge but strikes from Simone Inzaghi and Sinisa Mihajlovic won the game for the visitors, who had Fernando Couto sent off seven minutes from time.
The Portugese defender, who collected a second booking for a foul on Tore Andre Flo in a hot-tempered match, said he had no complaints with the decision. He earned his first yellow card for a spat with Frank Leboeuf, which also saw Chelsea's French defender booked. The caution means he will miss the quarter-final first leg. Leboeuf came off with a bad back in the 63rd minute while Didier Deschamps went to hospital after the game with concussion and Celestine Babayaro picked up a groin strain which may prevent him travelling to Nigeria for an Olympic qualifier on Saturday.
All in all, the night couldn't have gone much worse for Vialli as Chelsea lost at home in Europe for the first time ever, surrendered first place in the group and lost a key player from the next game.
Meanwhile, Hertha Berlin, who keep complaining about the state of the pitch at their Olympic stadium, have identified the culprits - worms. Small worms have proliferated under the heated pitch this winter and are devouring the grass. It is not the first time Hertha have had problems with animals. Last year they complained about wild boars digging holes in their training ground.
Elsewhere, Real Madrid joined Bayern Munich after the Spaniards
beat Rosenborg 1-0, making three Spanish sides in the last eight.
Last night's results:
Group C
Dynamo Kiev 2 Bayern Munich 0
Rosenborg 0 Real Madrid 1
Group D
Chelsea 1 Lazio 2
Marseille 0 Feyenoord 0
