Manchester United faces a big week; European charge

On Knife's Edge

	Wayne Rooney and his Man U teammates face a big week starting with Tuesday's clash against Roma. Andrew Yates/Getty Images
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Manchester United faces the biggest week of its season, with injuries throughout the side and serious pressure on domestic and European fronts. The Reds face Roma in Tuesday's crucial Champions League second leg game at 2-1 behind, on the back of a weekend in which Chelsea climbed further up their EPL coattail. Saturday's loss to Portsmouth and Chelsea's win means the title race suddenly looks very interesting. With six games to go, there are just three points between the teams, and the two sides still to play each other at Stamford Bridge.

European Charge

Going into this week's Champions League games, it's Liverpool who is flying the flag highest among the English teams. An excellent performance from the Reds, helped by an injury ravaged PSV side that was a shadow of the team that beat Arsenal in the previous round, saw them win 3-0.

Jose Mourinho doesn't seem overly concerned at the prospect of tournament favorites Chelsea missing out on qualification to the semifinals. Mourinho has already got plans for the April 24 match; the Special One surprised everyone in revealing his extra-curricular interest. "If we win, we go to the semifinal," he said, "if we lose, I will go to Earls Court and watch the wrestling on the 24." David Silva's 30-yard thunderbolt for Valencia in the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge means Chelsea needs to score in Tuesday's second leg at the Mestalla to stand any chance of facing all-but-qualified Liverpool in the semi.

The shocking scenes in the stands in the two other big European games involving English sides overshadowed events on the pitch. In Rome, where Manchester United visited last Wednesday, and Seville, where Tottenham's visited in the UEFA Cup quarterfinal, it's very difficult to work out who or what was the root of the problem. Fans inciting violence, overzealous policing, or both? Manchester United described the police action in Rome as "a serious overreaction" and said the police were handing out "indiscriminate beatings." In Seville, riot police were seen charging fans in the first half. In the second half, police withdrew, and the trouble subsided. Whatever happened in Rome and Seville, UEFA needs to look into the events from an entirely impartial view and act quickly.

On the football side of things a Paul Scholes 33rd-minute red card meant the Reds faced an uphill battle in the rest of the match. In the end, United lost the match 2-1, Wayne Rooney's first Champions League goal since his debut in September 2004 giving United a vital away goal going into the second leg at Old Trafford.