Manchester United have started to the search to replace their veteran goalkeeper, Edwin Van Der Saar. Van Der Saar, 39, could well be playing his last season in the Premier League when things open up again in August and United have already been in talks with Barcelona and Real Madrid over the signing of either Victor Valdes or Iker Casillas.

A deal for Valdes was actually nearly done but it was thought that United would not match the keeper’s £150,000 a week salary, that he currently gets at Barcelona. This would make him the second best paid player in the Premier League behind Robinho at Manchester City and is clearly not a risk that United would be willing to take.

It seems that they are now focusing on taking Casillas away from Madrid to offer him a new way of life in the Premier League. The Spanish captain is also ageing slightly but would be a good replacement for the Dutchman and would probably sign a long contract as he would see any move to United as the last move of his career.

However, Madrid will not be so willing to let one of their best players go at a time when they are clearly trying to restructure the club and reorganise the playing staff. It would be senseless and would counter the positive signings that they have made already.

United would do well to look into their own squad and show a little bit of faith to the likes of Ben Foster. Foster is clearly under rated as a goalkeeper in the Premier League and apart from his loan spell at Watford, he has never been given an extended run in the side. Whenever he has played he has always looked the part and has even made it into one or two Fabio Capello England squads, even though he was not in the Manchester United first team at the time.

This says bundles about his potential as a keeper and his ability to cope with pressure at the top of the modern game. It could also prove that the names mentioned above are purely speculation and without truth as United panic to try and keep their squad at a good quality ahead of the new season. Foster would be the first person to put his hand up and ask to be shown some faith and United must not forget how good he actually is.

Foster is not a small man and he has the ability to dominate the penalty area and his defence in the same way Peter Schmeichel used to do when he wore the United jersey. Tactically Foster is very good and he is rarely caught out of position when United are defending an attack. He has also had the benefit of listening to Van Der Saar’s abundant wealth of knowledge and experience and you have to say that even though the other two targets mentioned are higher in calibre, he may have more determination and enthusiasm for the job.

Barcelona will play Manchester United in the final of this season’s Champions League after a dramatic late goal from Andres Iniesta saw them through their tie with Chelsea.

Chelsea had led at Stamford Bridge for virtually the whole game before Barca struck with the last kick of the game to break the heart of every blues fan in the country. Michael Essien had put the home side ahead with a sublime 30-yard volley, which flew past Victor Valdes and into the top corner.

Much in a repeat of last week’s first leg, Chelsea stayed disciplined and Guus Hiddink’s men worked tirelessly to keep out a Barca side that were finding it difficult to get a shot on goal. Eric Abidal was sent off before Iniesta scored meaning he will miss the final along with United’s Darren Fletcher.

Chelsea will feel hard done by. The London side had four good shouts for a penalty turned down by referee, Tom Henning Ovrebo, as the official looked reluctant to make many decisions of great significance on the night. However, they maybe should have had the match wrapped up before any decision could have an impact on the game. They had more shots on target than Barca and should have put a second away, the Spanish side only ever needed just the one goal to win.

Barca’s winning goal was met with scenes that resembled a rock concert as opposed to a football match as virtually the entire Barcelona staff ran across the pitch to celebrate. A number of Chelsea players hounded the referee at the final whistle, something that UEFA are set to look into.

The pressures and feelings in such a big game can be very intense but this is not reason at all to think that you are above the officials and the result will not be changed. Chelsea’s actions, especially Dider Drogba who swore and shouted into television cameras, may well be punished by UEFA, and could well become something the blues forget.

Hiddink said after the final whistle had gone: “There were three clear penalties and the boys feel that this is an injustice. Two of them the Barcelona players went straight with their arms in the air.”

On balance it was probably a justified result. Chelsea played with a lot of heart and determination but anyone watching the match could see that Barca were clearly the more dominant of the side, at times having just over 70 per cent of possession. Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, would no doubt have preferred to be playing Chelsea.

The final at the end of May is now set up nicely. United will be spurred on by their domestic success and may well have secured yet another league title by the time the match comes around. For Barca, well it was obvious what the win in the tie meant to the players and staff last night and they will not get a bigger lift than this.

They had to rely on Iniesta in the final three seasons ago and they had to rely on him again last night. It was just rewards for a side that played such dominant football over the two legs.

After battling out for a 0-0 draw last night at the Nou Camp in Barcelona, Chelsea will take a slight subconscious advantage into the return leg of their Champions League semi-final.

In one of the most entertaining goalless draws that are ever likely to be seen, Chelsea played magnificently as they endured a Barcelona onslaught from start to finish. Theirry Henry was the most noticeable of the Barcelona players as the rest of his teammates were kept admirably quite by the entire Chelsea side.

Guus Hiddink’s men could even have stolen a one-goal advantage as Didier Drogba had clear chances to score, only to be denied by the tactical positioning of Barca keeper, Victor Valdes.

Chelsea will be buoyed by the fact they became the first team this season to go the Nou Camp and come away with a clean sheet still in tact, everyone else who has been there has been pretty much ripped apart.

Chelsea would have liked the away goal but they can now switch the pressure on Barcelona who will be disappointed not to take anything to Stamford Bridge when the teams meet for the second leg in a week’s time.

The match delivered everything that it was expected to deliver; passion, aggression and some Oscar award winning play-acting. Chelsea must be credited for a disciplined performance when they could easily have been over run and conceded more than just a single goal. If Barca had been 3-0 up at half time then not many would have complained.

Hiddink’s tactics can be marginally criticised but there is no dancing around the fact that his team got the job done. True enough they did not score themselves but the succeeded in keeping out one of the most talented attacks at the other end.

The draw allows Chelsea to go into the second leg in London with a more expansive attitude. They have played their disciplined performance to keep things level for when they unleash the atmosphere of Stamford Bridge.

Barcelona also picked up a key injury when defender Rafael Marquez pulled up with not a single person near him before hobbling off with what looked like an intensely painful knee injury. Josep Guardiola will no doubt have a headache or two over which tactics to deploy in West London but his side showed last night the dominance over a game they are capable of.

This game could well go right down to the wire. Barca are not going to go to West London and park the bus in front of goal the entire night and neither will Chelsea. If Chelsea play with half the discipline and passion that each of their players showed last night then they could well run away with the tie.

However, the match showed why Barca are touted as European favourites. If Chelsea have an off night in the return leg then it could well be a cricket score victory for the Spanish side.

One thing is for certain, we are in for a special game this time next week.

Tonight Chelsea face an absolutely massive task in Spain that could see their European ambitions completely destroyed.

Guus Hiddink’s men face up to the favourites for this years competition in what promises to be a mouth-watering occasion. It will take a tremendous amount of team spirit, combined with quality and skill to get the two time Premier League champions through this tie.

The loss of Ashley Cole will mean Jose Bosingwa steps in at left back to try and counter the attacking influence of arguably the best player in the world, Lionel Messi. Otherwise, Chelsea look fully equipped to pack out the midfield and give Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka the best possible chance of scoring an away goal to take back to Stamford Bridge.

Both sides are packed with talent so it is difficult to work out where tonight’s game will be won. Chelsea have only beaten Barca on four occasions, as opposed to the Spanish side’s five victories.

Chelsea will be looking to dominate the midfield battles. The likes of Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and Michael Ballack must all dominate Iniesta and Xavi. The Spanish side will clearly look to play a quick passing game to breach the Chelsea defence.

The recent form of Chelsea goalkeeper, Petr Cech, has come under increased scrutiny and as Barcelona will be looking to kill the tie in the first leg, the Czech international will have to be on top of his game.

The basis of Chelsea’s success under Jose Mourinho was Cech leading from the back, allowing the defence the time and movement to deal with attacking problems easily. If Barcelona look to exploit Cech then it could be one of the very few weak points in the West London side’s armour.

Leadership will also be vital. John Terry will still be hurting from the final defeat to Manchester United last season. Terry will need to pull out a big performance to martial his side through their most important game of this year’s campaign. Terry will also be paramount to stemming Barcelona’s attacking influence.

Hiddink will no doubt want to get one over on the club he faced during his time at Real Madrid. It is likely he is to be very shrewd with his tactics and considering the talent Barca will have on display, this is no surprise.

He has to deploy a clever system in order to impose his Chelsea side on the game. Sitting back and consolidating will knock work as it allows Barca to build up pressure and eventually pick off a goal or two.

As for Barcelona, the defence of the Spanish side has come under recent criticism especially the keeper, Victor Valdes, and captain, Carlos Puyol. Both of these players have been going through rough patches, but are likely to play as they are two of the most experienced players in the Spanish side.

The attacking combination that Barcelona go with is unknown, it could be Henry and Messi or it could be Messi and Eto’o, but the one thing that is guaranteed is that whoever plays, they are likey to give Chelsea a few headaches.

Chelsea will get through this one with vocal support from the fans and with a massive team performance. They have to keep Barcelona’s influences quiet, while at the same time imposing themselves on the game. If all of this unfolds then there is no reason why they can’t go back to the Bridge with a one or two goal advantage.