Having seen Manchester City and Arsenal take on mission impossible a week ago, Chelsea coasted into the last eight of the Champions League courtesy of a mission that came with its own guarantee — a second-leg victory that was assured by half-time against a team who are pretty much all mouth and no trousers.
Galatasaray’s colourful fans make a lot of noise but their team, at this level at least, is ordinary.
It is a myth that it no longer matters whether a team finishes first or second in the Champions League group stage, that the pool of teams is now so strong that avoiding the eight winners is unimportant.
Chelsea’s second-placed rivals walked straight into a battering courtesy of the best team in Europe, Bayern Munich, and another that has redefined the way the modern game is played, Barcelona.
Jose Mourinho and Chelsea, meanwhile, brushed aside Galatasaray with something approaching ease, and without doubt they got more of a game from Aston Villa last Saturday.
The logic is basic. With UEFA’s seeding process separating the elite clubs, whether they win their league or not, it is likely the group winners will include Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Then take out the groups that are won by Premier League teams — usually at least two — and any English team finishing second has a more than 50 per cent chance of playing one of that big three.
Alternatively, come first of four and if the fates allow the path to the late stages could be relatively gentle. As it was for Chelsea on Tuesday night.
Watch the video above for highlights of the match.
