Gordon Macrae

Chelsea will be optimistic of progression into the Champions League semi-finals after they were drawn against Portuguese side Benfica.

Manchester United never wanted to appear in the Europa League but once they parachuted into the tournament in the last-32 Sir Alex Ferguson remained adamant they would treat the trophy like any other competition.

Chelsea have drawn Benfica in the Champions League quarter-final.

Old foes and familiar spirits await Chelsea in the next stage of the Champions League, but England's only remaining representative in European competition will be hoping to avoid rampant representatives from Spain and Germany when the quarter-final draw is announced in Switzerland on Friday.

Arsenal legend Sol Campbell has praised the mental fortitude of Thierry Henry to comeback to Arsenal after achieving so much in his first spell at the club.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp has dropped his strongest hint yet that he would be open to the vacant England manager's job.

Tomas Rosicky has revealed he turned down lucrative offers from clubs in China and Russia to stay at Arsenal.

Liverpool cast-off Alberto Aquilani looks set to finally leave Anfield after his agent acknowledged the midfielder was set to sign a permanent deal with AC Milan.

Dimitar Berbatov will be allowed to leave Manchester United in the summer, after Sir Alex Ferguson admitted he could not guarantee the striker first-team football.

Jamie Carragher has lauded Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard in the wake of his hat-trick against Everton and believes the midfielder is second only to Bobby Charlton in a list of the greatest British midfielders.

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood insists captain Robin van Persie is unlikely to leave the club in the summer.

Juan Mata's vital away goal in the first leg provides Chelsea with some hope of overturning their two-goal deficit at home to Napoli on Wednesday evening.

Scott Parker insists Tottenham are not concerned about Arsenal's recent revival, after the gap between the two north London clubs was cut to just one point.

Former Manchester and Leeds United midfielder Gordon Strachan has lauded the ability of Sir Alex Ferguson to extend the careers of older players like Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs.

Eden Hazard has acknowledged he is flattered to be linked with a move to Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson watched the Lille playmaker at the weekend.

Steven Gerrard played down the importance of his hat-trick in Liverpool's 3-0 win over Everton on Tuesday night and implored his team-mates to produce similar performances on a consistent basis.

Liverpool will be hoping to recover from a recent poor run of form when they take on Everton at Anfield on Tuesday night.

The manager of purported Liverpool and Arsenal target Yann M'Vila has confirmed the midfielder will leave Rennes in the summer.

Brighton manager Gus Poyet has cast doubt over Luis Suarez's long-term future at Liverpool after he acknowledged his Uruguayan compatriot could leave the club this summer.

Arsene Wenger stopped short of warning Tottenham that his Arsenal side were targeting third-place in the Premier League, but Monday night's last-minute victory over Newcastle provided all the evidence Harry Redknapp will need.

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba looks set to remain with the club after he turned down a move to Juventus.

Arsenal can move to within a point of third-placed Tottenham should they beat Newcastle at home on Monday night.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has admitted he faces a battle to sign Lille winger Eden Hazard in the summer amid reported interest from Manchester United and Manchester City.

Didier Drogba has admitted for the first time that he would welcome the return of Jose Mourinho to Stamford Bridge, saying it would be a "fun" to have the Portuguese back in west London.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp believes Lukas Podolski will prove an inspired signing for Arsenal, amid reports the striker agreed a switch to north London over the weekend.

Liverpool legend Alan Hansen has implored Tottenham Hotspur to tie manager Harry Redknapp down to a new long-term deal before he is tempted to accept the vacant England post.

Athletic Bilbao midfielder Javi Martinez has revealed his head has been turned by reports linking him with a move to the Premier League.

Newcastle chairman Derek Llambias has admitted for the first time that the club risk losing midfielder Cheick Tiote in the summer, with Manchester United and Chelsea reportedly keen on the Cote d'Ivore international.

Arsene Wenger has praised Newcastle's quiet efficiency in the transfer market and believes Alan Pardew's side have to be considered challengers for the fourth Champions League spot on the back of their continued good form.