Following the Champions’ league exits of England’s top two sides, it seems that it is now universally accepted that going for victory in all competitions is foolish, it being ‘impossible to win on all fronts’. In fact, the very use of this terminology – usually found in descriptions of failed German attempts to conquer Europe – suggests that attempting to win the Champions’ League alongside other domestic competitions is as difficult as taking an army through Russia in wintertime. As many a General has found to his cost, this is indeed very difficult and by extension, United and Chelsea are excused for their poor showing in last week’s semi-finals. Just like the armies of Napoleon and Hitler, they had become battle-weary, whereas Liverpool – who according to Mourinho have been focussing solely on Europe since January – and Milan were not better, just fresher.

Now, to anyone who actually watched both matches, this view may seem a little hard to swallow. And anyone who witnessed Chelsea lump countless diagonal balls to Drogba or Manchester United obstinately refuse to mark the brilliant Kaka may wish to suggest that the root cause of the defeats imposed upon United and Chelsea was not fatigue, but tactical naivety. Going for victory on so many ‘fronts’ is undoubtedly a tall order, but both teams played into the hands of their adversary. Traps were laid and the Premiership’s top two sides gamely fell prey to their opponent’s devices.

One doesn’t imagine that the DVD of Liverpool’s epic victory over Milan two years ago is among Sir Alex Ferguson’s personal collection, but had he thrown even a cursory glance at that game, he couldn’t have helped but notice how Kaka took Liverpool to the proverbial cleaners before the tough tackling German, Didi Hamann, was brought on to nullify the Brazilian’s wizardry. With his influence diminished, Liverpool were able to get a foothold in the game and went on to stage one of the greatest comebacks of all time.

On Wednesday night, Sir Alex Fergusson’s United refused to pay any special attention to the dynamic Brazilian. Pre-game, when asked directly how he planned to deal with Kaka, Fergusson claimed with dismissive authority that he would be dealt with by the nearest man. This was not a bluff and was quite extraordinary considering how the balletic playmaker had twice dismantled the United defence just a week previously. Ferguson’s carefree attitude was bordering on arrogance and he was suitably punished when Kaka ghosted unmarked into the United box to slot home Milan’s crucial opening goal.

The Rossoneri were certainly not going to leave Ronaldo and Rooney unattended in a similar fashion. The Portuguese was constantly tracked and hounded by two men, whilst Rooney was left isolated up front. Despite an array of attacking talent at their disposal, United failed to provide any support for England's most potent striker. As Sven found out against Portugal, Rooney is not suited to playing up front on his own: he becomes frustrated, the responsibility becomes burdensome. He is at his best when another forward is able to occupy defenders, leaving him the space to operate in front of them. The combative Smith should have started against Milan, if only to bring Rooney into the game.

Whereas United were largely undone by their failure to deal with an outstanding individual, Chelsea were bereft of ideas from start to finish in their clash with Liverpool. Due to the regularity of the meetings between these two clubs, a synthetic rivalry has developed, which provokes as much volume and fervour inside Anfield as when more traditional foes are in town. Fans have claimed that the noise during Liverpool’s semi-final victory two years ago was like nothing experienced at Anfield before. On Tuesday night, it was possibly louder. And just like two years ago, Mourinho’s men were unable to silence the Liverpool faithful.

Like United, Chelsea left the focal point of their attack isolated up front and persisted in lumping aimless diagonal balls forward from Ashley Cole who seems to have lost all of the marauding instincts that characterised his game at Arsenal. In the vain hope that Didier Drogba could reproduce some of the magic that has enabled Chelsea to emerge unscathed from many a tight squeeze this season, they persevered with this tactic throughout the match. It was only the late introduction of Wright-Phillips and Robben that enabled Mourinho’s side to pose any attacking threat at all. However, by this stage, the tie had degenerated into an exhausted slugfest, with both sides hoping for a mistake rather than actively trying to create an opening.

For all Mourinho’s sound and fury before the game, his team exited with a whimper. They came to Anfield intent on preventing Liverpool scoring, but when the goal came, there was no plan B for them to fall back on.

So, simple as it is true, fatigue was not to blame for the Champion’s league demise of United and Chelsea. They just got it tactically wrong on the night.

According to Jose Mourinho, Shevchenko has finally ‘got the message’ following Chelsea’s Carling Cup victory over Wycombe last night. Apparently, his two goals against the league two outfit provided the Chelsea boss with evidence that his £30 million pound striker had at last understood what was expected of him as a Chelsea player.

"I was happy with Andriy's performance - he gave me more than I demanded. He will now play in Sunday's FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest.
"His attitude was good. He is learning and he showed he gets the message."

Given the circumstances, we cannot be 100% certain of what it is the Ukrainian is supposed to have understood. With only 3 league goals to his name this season, it’s presumably something to do with a need to score more goals. However, having scored over 150 league goals in Italy, one would have thought that this requirement was not something that he grasped for the first time last night. And, two goals against a side struggling to escape the lowest tier of the football league, is hardly an achievement to keep the doubters at bay. Although Shevchenko is without question a world-class player, being told this by the manager of Wycombe will not be enough to rebuild his shattered confidence.

It is far more probable, therefore, that Mourinho was alluding to Shevchenko’s need to fall in line, embrace the Special One’s team ethic and distance himself from his Russian employer. Newspaper reports that the Ukrainian striker was a mole in the Chelsea camp had clearly affected their close-knit squad and had almost certainly distanced the player from his teammates. The chilly atmosphere came to a head at Anfield this weekend, as Mourinho’s dissatisfaction turned into outward disaffection when he refused to shake the Ukrainian’s hand following Chelsea’s defeat to Liverpool. Mourinho’s anger certainly had nothing to do with the player’s performance on the pitch. He had come on as a late substitute and could not be deemed responsible for Chelsea’s lacklustre display.

Mourinho’s warm response last night was perhaps indicative that the manager himself has had a change of heart regarding his future at Chelsea Football Club. Over the last few weeks he has cut a forlorn figure, sniping at his employers and dropping unsubtle hints that he feels his position has been undermined. Last night, however, he came out fighting, issuing a clear sack-me-if-you-dare message to Abramovich. Recounting an earlier conversation with John Terry, Mourinho let it be known that should he be shown the exist door at Stamford Bridge, irreplaceable members of the squad may well follow him through it.

"When JT tells me, before he signs his new contract, because he has almost signed it, when he tells me it would be very difficult for him to play for another manager in his career, it is because he accepts my philosophy and it is the way he feels. He feels comfortable," Mourinho said.

Nothing the Special One says is without prior calculation, even if he sometimes gives the impression of opening his mouth before his brain has clicked into gear. This was nothing short of a thinly veiled warning to the powers that be at Stamford Bridge and leads to the conclusion that despite reports suggesting that Mourinho has already made up his mind to leave the club this summer, he has decided himself that his best opportunities for future success - especially in the Champion’s League – lie with Chelsea. And if he has to play arguably the world’s most acclaimed striker in order to keep his job, then this is a sacrifice he is prepared to make!