Manchester United have done English football proud.
Few expected them to reach a final after five years in the wilderness. But the Reds have roared back at the first time of asking to face Barcelona in Rotterdam on May 15.
Even if they were given the low road with a relatively easy passage, it is still a fantastic achievement.
A 1-1 draw at Old Trafford last night gave United an aggregate victory of 4-2 over Legia Warsaw in their semi-final. It wasn't quite the stylish performance manager Alex Ferguson wanted, but they did the job.
As skipper Bryan Robson pointed out "It's difficult both mentally and physically to be absolutely at 100 per cent when you are asked to play two major games in four days." It would have been impossible to have hit a peak so soon after a Wembley Cup final, but the lads put it in for the first half hour and we are through to the final.
It's an excellent follow-up to England's World Cup achievement.
"If we had been knocked out early people would have been only too ready to point the finger about the ban and had another knock at our game.
"I'm especially delighted after the disappointment of the Cup final on Sunday."
Fergie's Tribute
I am just sorry we didn't win the match, but we got there and it is a marvellous achievement.
The pitch is absolute murder and they were anxious because the players knew they had let themselves down on Sunday and they were desperate to do better.
So it was a nervous performance and the worry came from the disappointment of the Rumbelows final. But we were never in any danger of losing the tie and there was a wonderful goal from Lee Sharpe.
We tired in the last 25 minutes which is also down to the Wembley final. The crowd were tremendous and to have more than 44,000 for a live television match after spending fortunes on getting to Wembley is fantastic.
Man of the Match
Lee Sharpe scored a belting goal and Bryan Robson drove like a true captain, but Steve Bruce gets the vote for the guts to carry on after two smacks in the face had left him near senseless.
