Organisation might have stifled flair in the last 16, but try telling that to Liverpool and see if they care.

On the face of it, the draw has been kind to the remaining English clubs. Manchester United and Liverpool should be too strong for Roma and PSV Eindhoven respectively and, going by most forecasts, Chelsea should get the better of Valencia.

However, that's where I don't agree with the general consensus. In fact, not alone do I think that Valencia will put an end to Jose Mourinho's and Chelsea's European ambitions for another year, I think they could actually go on and win the competition.

Valencia were definitely slow burners in the group stage due as much to injuries as to anything else, but now that they have their leading players back they are a real force. Technical, physical, as well as mentally tough, they will pose Chelsea some serious problems.

While it's possible that they will be ordered to play the second leg at the Mestalla behind closed doors following the disgraceful scenes at the end of their game against Inter, I'm not really so sure that the lack of partisan support will turn out to be a major factor.

If UEFA and its new president, Michel Platini, decide to take a hard line and to impose that sort of sanction in addition to a fine and suspensions, the strange atmosphere that characterises a behind-closeddoors game could impact just as much on Chelsea as on the home team.

The difficulty for Mourinho is that, unlike Barcelona and Arsenal who were hitting top form at this time last year on their way to the final, Chelsea simply haven't been that impressive in Europe and in the Premier League.

It goes without saying that when you look at the team sheet, they are a match for anyone in terms of personnel, however, Frank Lampard is having a poor season, and for my money, neither Michael Ballack nor Andriy Shevchenko have fitted into the set-up. If one of Didier Drogba, John Terry or Petr Cech has a bad day, they are more vulnerable than they should be.

Chelsea have by far the toughest draw of the English clubs, and while they still possess that enviable strength in depth, they're not currently playing with the form necessary to win a Champions League.

Neither are Liverpool, but that didn't stop them in 2005, and it shouldn't stop them advancing to the semi-finals this time at the expense of PSV. Arsenal were bitterly disappointed at the way they went out to the Dutch side who don't look remotely like potential champions.

Jamie Carragher was adamant last Tuesday that it had been one of Liverpool's great nights at Anfield, and while they lost 1-0, you knew exactly what he meant.

Knocking out the champions was by some distance the performance of the round.

Admittedly, with Ronaldinho struggling for fitness, they got Barcelona at exactly the right time, but with Rafael Benitez once again showing his keen tactical appreciation, it was a still a job extremely well done.

Benitez exposed Barcelona's weakness at the back, he stifled their flair players in the middle of the pitch, both Mohamed Sissoko and Xabi Alonso were more concerned with destroying than creating, and Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy worked very hard when they didn't have the ball.

The reservations about Liverpool's creativity and flair remain, but they have already shown that they have the appetite and team spirit. If it's doubtful that their aggression and desire will be enough in the end to compensate for their lack of class, they will definitely be hard to beat.

Equally, there have to be reservations about Manchester United as well. The draw has been kind, and while Roma's win over Lyon was a surprise, the Italians are nothing like as formidable as Valencia.

So, United should go through, but with none of the swagger of the 1999 side.

Because the treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup was still a realistic target before yesterday's sixth round tie against Middlesbrough, the comparisons with eight years ago have been inevitable. However, in this season's big games, I don't remember United really firing on all cylinders.

I saw them twice against Arsenal, and on both occasions, Arsenal were the better side. More recently, they managed to edge out Liverpool, but again over the 90 minutes, they didn't look like a team with a clear lead at the top of the Premiership table.

To Alex Ferguson's credit, the signings of Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra have worked well, and United are making fewer mistakes defensively, yet Michael Carrick hasn't gone anyway near justifying his �18m price tag and, if Cristiano Ronaldo has improved considerably in terms of his end product, he is still Cristiano Ronaldo. Most significantly of all, Wayne Rooney has been nowhere near his best to date.

In '99, they were way ahead of all opposition in England whereas now they have been grinding out results instead of winning with ease. But that said, they're in a winning habit, and because this looks like being a pretty undistinguished season all round, they could well replicate the treble.

The Champions League now has a different complexion.

Bayern Munich should beat AC Milan to make it to the last four with United, while Mourinho and Chelsea will fancy their chances, and suddenly Liverpool find themselves in an unexpectedly strong position.

However, the dark horse looks like the strongest horse. Valencia to go all the way.