Offside rule saved us, but it’s a joke

EVERYONE was on their best behaviour in Madrid thank goodness. UEFA were unavailable for comment.

We’d have settled for the draw beforehand. Fitness and the forthcoming ‘clash of the titans’ seemed uppermost in the manager’s mind, with the international players clearly feeling the strain. We often sit back on a lead in Europe anyway, but this was different and we were saved by generous offside interpretations.

In the rush to demonise officials no-one will admit the rule is archaic and impossible to enforce. It also produces a reward system entirely favouring defence.