Genius of Giggs pushes United towards Wembley

Giggs was instrumental as United took charge

Chelsea 0-1 Manchester United

In among all the pressure and build-up that goes with an all-English Champions League quarter-final, it was no surprise to see Ryan Giggs play a starring role as Man Utd took a giant stride towards the semi-finals.

Giggs just doesn't seem to feel pressure and that was again underlined with another spotless performance, leading many to suggest he can carry on playing for at least another two years.

Giggs set up Wayne Rooney's winning goal and it will take a great effort from Chelsea to recover from the one-goal deficit.

The way Giggs cooly brought down Michael Carrick's excellent ball, took Jose Bosingwa out of the game and played a fantastic ball into Rooney showed his class.

Rooney did well to calmly finish, and Carrick's ball made it all possible, but it was the role of Giggs which was the key one.

Rooney's celebration was in sharp contrast to his TV rant earlier in the week

It was nice to see a smile on Rooney's face after he scored, if nothing else to show he still loves the game as much as ever.

He is in real goalscoring form and that could make all the difference between now and the end of the season.

As for Giggs, though, pundits are running out of superlatives to describe him.

He is a simply sublime player who is only getting better with age.

The way he has re-invented himself as primarily a central midfielder sums this up.

Not content with resting on a career made out of being a rampaging left-winger, he has worked tirelessly to learn the new role and become the versatile player any club needs.

He even played left-back brilliantly in the second half at West Ham on Saturday. He is the role model all players should look up to. Wayne Rooney could do worse than asking him for some advice on how to lead his life, on and off the pitch.

Despite turning 38 later this year, he still has the same drive, enthusiasm and love of the game he had when he broke into the United team as a teenager, and there is no sign of this relenting any time soon.

Giggs is the most decorated player in the history of English football

He looks set to win his 12th league title this season and could follow it up with a third Champions League and that is a record other players can only dream of.

He is just as key a member of the United side as he ever has been, and it is not beyond the realms of possibility he could play into his 40s.

The only man to score in every Premier League season, he will go down as one of the best players in the Red Devils' history. He has won everything worth winning at club level yet still has the motivation to continue and improve.

His like will not be seen again.

Giggs controlled the game as United took advantage of a sloppy Chelsea side at Stamford Bridge.

A quick glance at the statistics and you could be forgiven for thinking Chelsea had dominated the game and were caught by a sucker punch.

But in this case, the stats are deceptive.

Chelsea did have chances but overall, Man Utd will feel they were more than a match for them.

Rio Ferdinand made his first appearance against John Terry since losing the England captaincy

Rio Ferdinand was a rock at the back on his return and it must be a relief for United to have him back playing and at his best.

He slotted back into the side easily and will be key in the run-in, both domestically and in Europe.

Nemanja Vidic, for once, was not sent off in a game featuring Fernando Torres, and he was also solid as United got the job done.

Chelsea will see the game as a missed opportunity though.

They should have had a penalty in stoppage time and a draw may have been a fair result, but in truth they only have themselves to blame.

They had more than enough chances to at least go to Old Trafford level, with Fernando Torres one of those particularly guilty of fluffing his lines.

Torres has failed to score in nine games for Chelsea

He completely missed his kick just a few yards out from goal in the first half, with Frank Lampard's effort then cleared off the line, and still looks short of match fitness. But this is getting ridiculous now.

He should be match fit by now as he has been playing consistently pretty much all season.

He needs to get his scoring boots on now or those voices who say he is in terminal decline will get louder and louder. Comparisons with £30million flop Andriy Shevchenko are growing and this is a burden Torres could do without.

The one good effort he did have, though, drew a wonderful save from Edwin van der Sar.

Torres directed a powerful header at goal and it looked for all the world like he had brought Chelsea level, but van der Sar stretched brilliantly and clawed the ball away from danger.

van der Sar is a class act and Sir Alex Ferguson will surely try one last time to talk him out of retiring.

His save ensured United will take a crucial advantage back to Old Trafford for the second leg, but Chelsea should not lose hope yet.

Any win for Carlo Ancelotti's side there would see at least extra-time, so there is still every chance they could progress.

There will need to be a drastic improvement, however, as they still look awkward and are trying too hard to help Torres fit into the side.

United will feel ultra-confident of making the semis and with a tie against Schalke in the offing it looks like a place at Wembley may be within touching distance.

They will not become complacent however, as they know Chelsea possess more than enough quality to launch a comeback.

As for Wednesday's other quarter-final, Barcelona turned on the style to destroy Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1.

Barca seem to be getting better as the season goes on

Shakhtar had been tipped to trouble Barca but it would be difficult for anyone to beat the Catalans on this form.

They are arguably the best team of all-time and to many it seems inevitable they will lift the trophy at Wembley in May.

There are serious hurdles to overcome, however, notably their likely semi-final meeting against Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid.

Mourinho's sheer presence should ensure Barca don't have it all their own way but as they showed in their 5-0 beating of their fierce rivals earlier in the season, they have the measure of them.

Every member of the Barcelona side is world-class, with the top three ranked players in the world - Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi - on top form.

An English side in the final would present a threat to them but they must be supremely confident of winning the competition.

Jose Mourinho led Inter to a semi-final win against Barca last season and the Catalans want retribution

Their semi-final defeat to Inter Milan last year still hurts and they will be eager to put it right by destroying everyone in their path. That is very hard to bet against.

Man Utd - Chelsea is the only quarter-final tie realistically still alive, so it makes for some second leg at Old Trafford.

United should pull through as their one-goal advantage gives them something to defend in front of their own fans, but an early goal for Chelsea would change the whole shape of the tie.

With Giggs on form, though, a fourth European Cup triumph seems well within reach.