Had it not happened at Stamford Bridge yesterday, Chelsea might well have been prevented from going to the top of the table by a diligent and persevering Spurs side determined to let reputation count for nothing. It had been ferocious stuff in which tackling and tempers rose in intensity in roughly equal measure for most of the match.
Chelsea, with yet another combination of their cosmopolitan playing staff on display, were not exactly bereft of ideas but they were in danger of being frustrated It showed in their irasciblity Spurs were a model of regimentation. A SQUAD of richly gifted players from all parts of the planet is useful to sides with title aspirations, of course, but on the difficult days nothing helps more than seeing the opposition reduced to 10 men. Against United’s group phase opponents, four draws sufficed to ensure qualification. Now the winning has to start.EUROPEAN CUP DRAWSCHAMPIONS’ LEAGUEReal Madrid v Dynamo KievManchester Utd v InternazionaleJuventus v OlympiakosBayern Munich v KaiserslauternTies to be played on Weds 3 and 17 MarchCUP WINNERS’ CUPChelsea v ValerengaLokomotiv Moscow v Maccabi HaifaVarteks v Real MallorcaLazio v PanioniosTies to be played on Thurs 4 and 18 MarchUEFA CUPMarseille v Celta VigoBologna v LyonBordeaux v ParmaAtletico Madrid v AS RomaTies to be played on Tues 2 and 16 March. Their presence, and in Beckham’s case, his ability to withstand the inner demons, will be essential.

United remain a potent force without one or other of Giggs and Beckham but, as was graphically demonstrated for an hour against Chelsea, not without both. Whatever the truth, the record signing from Barcelona has not presented the threat he did last season when his tally was 25 goals from 32 Serie A games.Whether Ferguson’s team can capitalise on such uncertainties will largely depend on the continued proficiency of Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole, and the providers/executioners Ryan Giggs and David Beckham, the latter of whom is likely to be confronted by his Argentinian France 98 antagonist Diego Simeone. Significantly, the present Juventus coach Marcello Lippi is likely to be available in the summer, a fact which will not be ignored by the Inter president Massimo Moratti.And what of Ronaldo, who has been waging the battle of wounded knee? Inter have constantly complained that the Brazilian’s recovery from a “chronic” condition was worsened by playing in the World Cup final under painkillers. There is much speculation in Italy that unless last year’s Uefa Cup victors achieve a much overdue national championship – they have not won the Serie A title since 1989 – he may not have that agreement extended. Not least, they have only recently installed new coach Mircea Lucescu to replace the sacked Gigi Simoni.

Although the former Romanian national coach arrived with a glowing reference from Rapid Bucharest he has only a seven-month contract. In their last eight European and Premiership games, for instance, while United have netted 16 goals they have also conceded 17. There always appears a skylight left ajar to permit entry, and that will be all that intruders like the 1997 world player of the year Ronaldo, and the 1993 recipient Roberto Baggio, Youri Djorkaeff, or Ivan Zamorano need to steal through and exploit United’s shortcomings.Yet Ferguson will be aware that Inter are vulnerable on a number of fronts. On three occasions in seven days Alex Ferguson’s men had allowed teams to recover to secure a draw after establishing a lead, and while his defensive reserves are plentiful enough, no particular formation renders real security for Ferguson.