When you go 1-0 up in the first leg and 3-0 up in the second, you really shouldn't expect to get knocked out of Europe.
But then nothing was quite as it seemed on a night of spectacular fake-outs from Manchester United as they fell to Bayern Munich.
- Fergie pretended Wayne Rooney had "no chance" of being fit, then put the striker into his starting line-up (he was at least correct in predicting Rooney wouldn't be on the bench).
- He pretended Gary Neville would play by declaring Franck Ribery "not any quicker" than Red Nev, then put the younger, faster Rafael into the team.
- Then United pretended to be Barcelona for 41 minutes, tearing into a seemingly unassailable 3-0 lead on the night, before descending into sloppiness.
- Back to Rooney, whose inclusion Fergie pretended was "no risk" before kick-off. Well, he aggravated the same ankle again, but he and the bench exchanged thumbs-up to pretend it was OK.
- Finally, Fergie pretended it was Bayern's fault Rafael committed two silly fouls and got himself sent off. Early Doors did like the "typical Germans" remark, however.
Still, it all made for a cracking good cup tie. Where Tuesday night was all about celebrating Leo Messi's talent, last night had drama, tension and genuine antagonism.
And by leaving a clearly injured Rooney on for 35 minutes, Fergie turned the game into a nightmare of Hitchcockian suspense as England fans waited for the other shoe to drop - most likely on that damaged right ankle.
During the second half, ITV commentator Peter Drury said: "No-one's enjoying it any more. This is an excruciating night."
Had Drury been working for Sky, that comment might have lost him his job, but he was right.
The decision to play Rooney in the first place laid bare United's paucity of squad depth. Liverpool fans who have endured taunts about being a mediocre team with two great players now have a response: at least we've got two.
In fact it was not United's attacking that let them down, but their defensive work. Crass individual errors by Patrice Evra and Michael Carrick handed Ivica Olic both his goals, while you might wonder how Arjen Robben had so much time to line up his admittedly brilliant winner.
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So the British press have got their wish - Jose Mourinho in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Unfortunately, it has come at the expense of any English participation.
Well, ED says 'unfortunately' but it isn't really. The Champions League is supposed to be difficult, and consecutive years with three Premier League sides in the semi-finals merely cast the competition as some kind of FA Cup with special guests.
Not any more. Chelsea were outplayed by Inter, Arsenal were outplayed by Barcelona, United were outplayed (just) by Bayern, and Liverpool were outplayed by everyone.
Good, frankly. The tournament needs competitive balance and it's not like any of the last four are duffers.
The Inter-Barca tie obviously needs no selling, and represents a thrilling confrontation of good versus evil - only where you have a sneaking admiration for the bad guys.
ED can't be alone in half-hoping Inter, niggle, dive and cheat their way to the final. Well, maybe it can.
And Bayern-Lyon? Well, they're always there so you can hardly begrudge them a semi-final.
ED has not seen much of Lyon this season, but this nugget from OptaJean suggests Claude Puel has turned them into some kind of gallic Bolton: "Barcelona (1172 passes) completed 875 more passes than Lyon (297) during the quarter finals of the Champions League. Contrast."
Xavi alone was only 68 short of Lyon's total.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY: Typical Fergie: "The young boy showed a bit of inexperience, but they got him sent off, everyone sprinted towards the referee - typical Germans. You cannot dispute that, they are like that."
FOREIGN VIEW: Diego Maradona has been giving Lionel Messi lifestyle tips. Yikes.
Argentina coach Maradona also said the debate as to whether he or Pele was the greatest footballer ever will end and when the 22-year-old's career is over it will be clear who was the best.
"He's at a select level, being the best in the world and a star at Barcelona. Leo is playing kick-about with Jesus," Maradona said.
"There are moments when you are invaded by loneliness, but you have to be strong so you don't end up doing things one did," he said, apparently referring to his drug addiction during his playing days.
"I spoke to him a lot about this."
COMING UP: England's last two European teams go into battle tonight in the Europa League. Rafa Benitez's band of not-so-merry men attempt to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit, while Uncle Woy takes his side to Germany sitting on a 2-1 advantage. Liverpool v Benfica and Wolfsburg v Fulham both at 20.05 UK time.