Red Devils in the box seat

Chelsea 0 Man United 1

Manchester United, the ultimate heavyweights of English football, left west London with a 1-0 victory that makes them strong favourites to reach the semi-finals when the second leg is played at Old Trafford on April 12, and it was street fighter Rooney who gave them the advantage.

In a match that saw six players booked Rooney — on trial this week for his trash-talking at West Ham — survived a barrage of ferocious tackles that in days gone by would have tested his temper before producing a 24th minute goal that underlined his undoubted quality.