You are never going to get an easy draw in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

But I reckon it couldn’t have worked out much better for Chelsea than getting Atletico Madrid in the last four, even though the Spanish side are top of the Primera Division.

Jose Mourinho’s side travel next week for the first leg, too, which could be significant with the second leg to follow at Stamford Bridge the following week.

Chelsea revelled in that scenario when they knocked out Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals after trailing in the first leg, so I think it’s set up as nicely as it possibly could be.

Atletico are no mugs, however, as they have shown all season, and any team who knocks out Barcelona, as they did in the last round, deserves the utmost respect.

I think Chelsea should be delighted, though, that they have missed both Real Madrid and the threat posed by Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and the rest, and more so the reigning champions Bayern Munich.

You have to give Pep Guardiola enormous credit for the job he is doing in Germany.

Fair enough, they were a very good side before he went there, but their passing and movement and pace is just mind-blowing at the moment.

They made Manchester United look very second-rate last week and, unfortunately, the Old Trafford side are playing more like that this season than the champions they are.

It is looking very unlikely that United will get back into the Champions League next season and that will be a massive miss for a club the size and stature of United.

Arsenal, Everton and Tottenham look to have much better chances of clinching fourth place in the Premier League table than United, who have fallen well behind and have injury problems to leading players like Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie.

People will expect United to make a lot of changes for next season, but it’s hard to do that and expect them all to gel, fit in and immediately start producing positive results.

I don’t think it’s an easy prospect at all and, while I like David Moyes, he is going to be under pressure to deliver.

It makes you wonder if the club owners will give him the money to start a rebuilding job or whether they will decide to make a fresh start?

Preparations are well under way for our exciting PPG Cup junior football tournament next month.

The action will take place at our PPG Canalside training complex on the weekend of May 17/18.

It’s a six-a-side format for age groups from Under 7 all the way through to Under 14.

And it provides the chance to play on the same pitches our first-team players, like Adam Clayton train on every day.

The event means people can see what a fantastic community facility the club have created.

The high level of interest means we have expanded it from a one into a two-day event.

It’s full at Under 8, 9 and 11 level, with a few spaces available in the other sections.

Teams can use up to two substitutes and while the Under 7 and 8s will play four games apiece in a friendly round-robin, the elder sides will play at least three games before the semi-finals and final.

The winning sides from Under 9 upwards will be presented with a trophy by a special guest from the club, while all players involved will receive a participation medal.

There will be other activities going on, so there is plenty of fun to be had for the whole family.

And thanks to PPG, the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, currently in the possession of Peterborough United after their recent Wembley win over
Chesterfield, will be on display, providing a great photo opportunity.

E-mail info@canalsidesports.com for further information.