• Champions League

Draw good for English football - Ancelotti

ESPN staff
March 18, 2011
Chelsea and Manchester United are set for a last-eight duel © Getty Images
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Carlo Ancelotti has urged his Chelsea players to use their 2008 heartache as inspiration in the Champions League quarter-final tie with Manchester United.

The Blues suffered an agonising penalty defeat to United in the final three years ago following a 1-1 draw after extra time in Russia.

Now they have a chance at revenge after the two clubs were drawn together in the last eight of this year's competition, with the first leg to be played at Stamford Bridge on April 6, the week before the return.

Although Chelsea are nine points off United in the title race, they beat Sir Alex Ferguson's men 2-1 at Stamford Bridge earlier this month, and did the double over the Red Devils last season.

"We have to consider the past, obviously," Ancelotti said. "The players can be reminded that they lost against Manchseter United, but also we can remind them that we beat them last year and this season. The past is the past. They will be different games. Realistically, it will be difficult."

Ancelotti has claimed that the tie will provide a boost for the English game as it guarantees a Premier League side in the semis. "For English football it is good because, unlike last year, one English team will be in the semi-final," he said. "This year, one or two teams will be in the semis - this is good."

The winner of the tie will go on to play Inter Milan or Schalke in the semi-finals of the competition.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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