A shock was on the cards when Norwich’s Michael Turner opened the scoring in the second half, but with the clock ticking down and frustration levels soaring at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal rallied.

Mikel Arteta levelled from the penalty spot, Olivier Giroud slid in from close range, and Lukas Podolski added the coup de grace to send them third in the Premier League table, one point clear of London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in fourth and fifth.

Everton stay sixth after maintaining their faint top-four aspirations with a 2-0 win at home to Queens Park Rangers thanks to goals from Darron Gibson and Victor Anichebe.

The picture remains bleak for QPR, who are seven points adrift of safety in 19th, level on points with Reading, who earned a point with a backs-to-the-wall 0-0 draw at home to Liverpool.

Aston Villa drew 1-1 with Fulham to move three points clear of the relegation zone, but having played two games more than 18th-placed Wigan Athletic, who were in action in the FA Cup on Saturday, beating Championship side Millwall 2-0 to reach the final.

Mid-table Southampton and West Ham United shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw.

Arsenal began the day in fifth but looked like suffering a demoralising defeat as the visitors rode their luck and then took the lead when Turner headed in an inswinging freekick from Robert Snodgrass after 56 minutes.

Their route back into the match arrived in the 85th minute, when the linesman spotted a tug by Norwich’s Kei Kamara on Olivier Giroud from a corner and Arteta slammed the penalty high into the net.

With the momentum behind them and the home crowd sensing blood, Arsenal took the lead three minutes later as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain cut it back for Giroud to slide home with the help of a deflection off Norwich’s Sebastien Bassong.

Podolski dealt the final blow in injury time, hammering home a low shot from outside the penalty area to complete a remarkable turnaround.

“I thought we wouldn’t give in and fight until the end. No-one could predict we would score three goals but we have great attitude, spirit and desire – and it got us there,” manager Arsene Wenger said on the BBC.

“We deserved to win but we were against a strong side and needed something special.”

CLEAR WATER

After a difficult start to the season, when their top-four hopes were largely written off, Arsenal have now taken 25 points from 30. Apart from a home clash with Manchester United, they look to have a favourable run-in compared to their rivals.

They also have the opportunity to put clear water between themselves and Tottenham.

Arsenal play twice more, starting with Everton on Tuesday, before their north London rivals take to the field again, giving them the opportunity to open up a seven-point advantage as the season winds towards its climax.

“For me what is more important is to keep the run, attitude and focus strong,” Wenger added.

“We want consistency and that demands huge focus because you can see how quickly you’re punished. We’re not far away but we just have to keep winning.”

QPR’s unlikely hopes of staving off relegation were dealt a blow by an Everton side still entertaining an implausible late charge into the top four.

Everton took the lead in the 40th minute when a Gibson shot from distance took a wicked deflection of QPR’s Clint Hill and beat Julio Cesar in goal for the Premier League strugglers.

The home team effectively ended the contest when Anichebe latched on to a knockdown from Sylvain Distin to flick home 11 minutes after the restart. Everton are now unbeaten in their last five league games.

“I think if we beat Arsenal in midweek we can talk about the Champions League but if lose we are talking about a Europa League place,” Everton manager David Moyes said.

Bottom club Reading withstood a Liverpool barrage but held on for a point thanks in a large part to keeper Alex McCarthy, who was in inspired form.

Liverpool had scored in their previous 10 away league games but only once found a way past McCarthy when Philippe Coutinho had the ball in the net at the start of the second half, but it was correctly ruled out for offside.

If Liverpool lacked a cutting edge, their 35 million pounds ($53.79 million) striker Andy Carroll, on loan at West Ham United, found the net with a deflected free kick, his fifth goal in nine games, to cancel out Gaston Ramirez’s opener for Southampton.

At Villa Park, the home team took the lead 10 minutes after the restart when Andreas Weimann cut the ball back for Charles N’Zogbia, who curled into the top corner. Fulham levelled when Fabian Delph put through his own net.

(Reporting by Toby Davis; Editing by Tom Pilcher and Stephen Wood)

A shock was on the cards when Norwich’s Michael Turner opened the scoring in the second half, but with the clock ticking down and frustration levels soaring at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal rallied.

Mikel Arteta levelled from the penalty spot, Olivier Giroud slid in from close range, and Lukas Podolski added the coup de grace to send them third in the Premier League table, one point clear of London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in fourth and fifth.

Everton stay sixth after maintaining their faint top-four aspirations with a 2-0 win at home to Queens Park Rangers thanks to goals from Darron Gibson and Victor Anichebe.

The picture remains bleak for QPR, who are seven points adrift of safety in 19th, level on points with Reading, who earned a point with a backs-to-the-wall 0-0 draw at home to Liverpool.

Aston Villa drew 1-1 with Fulham to move three points clear of the relegation zone, but having played two games more than 18th-placed Wigan Athletic, who were in action in the FA Cup on Saturday, beating Championship side Millwall 2-0 to reach the final.

Mid-table Southampton and West Ham United shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw.

Arsenal began the day in fifth but looked like suffering a demoralising defeat as the visitors rode their luck and then took the lead when Turner headed in an inswinging freekick from Robert Snodgrass after 56 minutes.

Their route back into the match arrived in the 85th minute, when the linesman spotted a tug by Norwich’s Kei Kamara on Olivier Giroud from a corner and Arteta slammed the penalty high into the net.

With the momentum behind them and the home crowd sensing blood, Arsenal took the lead three minutes later as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain cut it back for Giroud to slide home with the help of a deflection off Norwich’s Sebastien Bassong.

Podolski dealt the final blow in injury time, hammering home a low shot from outside the penalty area to complete a remarkable turnaround.

“I thought we wouldn’t give in and fight until the end. No-one could predict we would score three goals but we have great attitude, spirit and desire – and it got us there,” manager Arsene Wenger said on the BBC.

“We deserved to win but we were against a strong side and needed something special.”

CLEAR WATER

After a difficult start to the season, when their top-four hopes were largely written off, Arsenal have now taken 25 points from 30. Apart from a home clash with Manchester United, they look to have a favourable run-in compared to their rivals.

They also have the opportunity to put clear water between themselves and Tottenham.

Arsenal play twice more, starting with Everton on Tuesday, before their north London rivals take to the field again, giving them the opportunity to open up a seven-point advantage as the season winds towards its climax.

“For me what is more important is to keep the run, attitude and focus strong,” Wenger added.

“We want consistency and that demands huge focus because you can see how quickly you’re punished. We’re not far away but we just have to keep winning.”

QPR’s unlikely hopes of staving off relegation were dealt a blow by an Everton side still entertaining an implausible late charge into the top four.

Everton took the lead in the 40th minute when a Gibson shot from distance took a wicked deflection of QPR’s Clint Hill and beat Julio Cesar in goal for the Premier League strugglers.

The home team effectively ended the contest when Anichebe latched on to a knockdown from Sylvain Distin to flick home 11 minutes after the restart. Everton are now unbeaten in their last five league games.

“I think if we beat Arsenal in midweek we can talk about the Champions League but if lose we are talking about a Europa League place,” Everton manager David Moyes said.

Bottom club Reading withstood a Liverpool barrage but held on for a point thanks in a large part to keeper Alex McCarthy, who was in inspired form.

Liverpool had scored in their previous 10 away league games but only once found a way past McCarthy when Philippe Coutinho had the ball in the net at the start of the second half, but it was correctly ruled out for offside.

If Liverpool lacked a cutting edge, their 35 million pounds ($53.79 million) striker Andy Carroll, on loan at West Ham United, found the net with a deflected free kick, his fifth goal in nine games, to cancel out Gaston Ramirez’s opener for Southampton.

At Villa Park, the home team took the lead 10 minutes after the restart when Andreas Weimann cut the ball back for Charles N’Zogbia, who curled into the top corner. Fulham levelled when Fabian Delph put through his own net. ($1 = 0.6507 British pounds)

(Reporting by Toby Davis; Editing by Tom Pilcher and Stephen Wood)

Strong favourites to progress having drawn the away leg 2-2, Barcelona left Lionel Messi on the bench and looked in danger of paying the ultimate price when Javier Pastore scored with a neat finish to put PSG in the box seat.

Messi, nursing a hamstring injury, was summoned into action with half an hour to play and was involved in the buildup as Pedro rifled home left-footed from the edge of the area after 71 minutes to send Barcelona into the semis for the sixth straight season.

“Messi made a big effort to be with us. He’s a very important player for the team. He worked very hard this week and was able to help out the team when he came on,” Pedro told Spanish television after the 1-1 home draw.

“We want to thank him, and say congratulations for everything he did to get himself ready for the game and to help the team. He’s the number one. We felt his presence when he came on the pitch, he lifted us, and we got the result.”

There was no such drama at the Juventus stadium where Mario Mandzukic and Claudio Pizarro scored in the second half as Bayern completed a 2-0 win on the night and 4-0 aggregate success.

Mandzukic scored with a stooping header from close range after 64 minutes to effectively end the contest and Pizarro nonchalantly rolled the ball home in injury time as a final flourish for last year’s beaten finalists.

“We came under pressure, then we had our chances but we stayed alert, apart from the opening 15 minutes. The fans created a sensational atmosphere,” captain Philipp Lahm told German television.

“I think the best four teams in Europe are in the semis with two German ones so I think we should all be happy about that.”

The remaining two semi-final spots were taken by Real Madrid, who thwarted a valiant Galatasaray fightback to progress on Tuesday, and Borussia Dortmund who scored two very late goals to knock out Malaga in stunning fashion.

The semi-final draw is on Friday with the first legs being played on April 23 and 24. Wembley will host the final on May 25.

(Editing by Mark Meadows)

Strong favourites to progress having drawn the away leg 2-2, Barcelona left Lionel Messi on the bench and looked in danger of paying the ultimate price when Javier Pastore scored with a neat finish to put PSG in the box seat.

Messi, nursing a hamstring injury, was summoned into action with half an hour to play and was involved in the buildup as Pedro rifled home left-footed from the edge of the area after 71 minutes to send Barcelona into the semis for the sixth straight season.

“Messi made a big effort to be with us. He’s a very important player for the team. He worked very hard this week and was able to help out the team when he came on,” Pedro told Spanish television after the 1-1 home draw.

“We want to thank him, and say congratulations for everything he did to get himself ready for the game and to help the team. He’s the number one. We felt his presence when he came on the pitch, he lifted us, and we got the result.”

There was no such drama at the Juventus stadium where Mario Mandzukic and Claudio Pizarro scored in the second half as Bayern completed a 2-0 win on the night and 4-0 aggregate success.

Mandzukic scored with a stooping header from close range after 64 minutes to effectively end the contest and Pizarro nonchalantly rolled the ball home in injury time as a final flourish for last year’s beaten finalists.

“We came under pressure, then we had our chances but we stayed alert, apart from the opening 15 minutes. The fans created a sensational atmosphere,” captain Philipp Lahm told German television.

“I think the best four teams in Europe are in the semis with two German ones so I think we should all be happy about that.”

The remaining two semi-final spots were taken by Real Madrid, who thwarted a valiant Galatasaray fightback to progress on Tuesday, and Borussia Dortmund who scored two very late goals to knock out Malaga in stunning fashion.

The semi-final draw is on Friday with the first legs being played on April 23 and 24. Wembley will host the final on May 25. ($1 = 0.7642 euros) (Editing by Mark Meadows)

The three Premier League sides were all kept apart in the draw for the last eight and head into Thursday’s quarter-final first legs looking to earn back some of the country’s European lustre.

European champions Chelsea host Russian outfit Rubin Kazan, London rivals Tottenham welcome Swiss side Basel and Newcastle travel to Benfica.

Fenerbahce’s clash with Lazio is the only quarter-final not to feature a Premier League club.

For Chelsea, Thursday’s match against Rubin is the start of a gruelling fixture pile-up that involves playing five matches in 13 days as they look to do battle in three competitions.

Defeat to Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday left them looking vulnerable in a three-way fight with Tottenham and Arsenal for the final two Champions League qualification spots.

But victory over Manchester United in an FA Cup quarter-final replay 48 hours later set them up nicely for an end-of-season push for silverware.

“My priority is the top four and trying to win the next game, in the Europa League,” Chelsea’s persistently under-fire interim manager Rafa Benitez said after Monday’s hard-fought 1-0 win.

“We’re in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, quarter-finals of the Europa League. It’s a great season at the moment. It could be even better.”

CHELSEA FAVOURITES

Chelsea start as overwhelming favourites but Rubin are no pushovers having knocked out holders Atletico Madrid and their La Liga rivals Levante in two previous rounds to reach a European quarter-final for the first time.

The club from the Volga region, the last remaining Russian side in the competition, warmed up for the Chelsea clash with a 2-0 home win over Lokomotiv Moscow on Saturday, moving them into fourth place in the league table.

Tottenham, who like Chelsea are almost certainly prioritising their fight for a top-four finish in the Premier League, host Basel, the Swiss champions for the last three seasons.

The Swiss have lost only two league matches since Murat Yakin, a former Switzerland defender, took over as coach at the end of October and are unbeaten domestically this year. They are the only reigning domestic champions still in the Europa League.

They last reached the quarter-finals of a European competition in 2005/06 when Middlesbrough knocked them out of the then UEFA Cup.

“We are extremely excited about this draw,” said Yakin. “Tottenham Hotspur are a great team from a wonderful city. We have nothing to lose against them. We have earned the opportunity to play against teams like these. It’s already a huge accomplishment to be in the last eight of the Europa League.”

For Newcastle, the Europa League is a distraction from their domestic battle to avoid relegation with the club three points above the drop zone following a crushing 4-0 defeat to Manchester City on Saturday.

Manager Alan Pardew, who was handed a remarkable eight-year contract at the start of the season, has promised fans that his side will put in an improved display in Lisbon.

“It’s one of the great European adventures, trust me,” Pardew said.

“Their stadium is going to be rocking on Thursday night – and after our result they will be looking forward to us coming.

“But we will certainly be better than we were on Saturday.”

Fenerbahce host Lazio with the Turkish side looking to improve on a dismal record against Italian teams, having lost 10 of 13 clashes to date.

Lazio are fifth in Serie A after their 2-1 win over Catania on Saturday but still have an outside chance of finishing third and a place in the Champions League next season.

Coach Vladimir Petkovic, who speaks eight languages, said of Fenerbahce: “They are very good, especially at home. Turkish sides don’t usually shine when they play away, however.

“We have great respect for them but they are not unbeatable.”

(Writing by Toby Davis; additional reporting by Ece Toksabay, Brian Homewood, Gennady Fyodorov; editing by Justin Palmer)

The three Premier League sides were all kept apart in the draw for the last eight and head into Thursday’s quarter-final first legs looking to earn back some of the country’s European lustre.

European champions Chelsea host Russian outfit Rubin Kazan, London rivals Tottenham welcome Swiss side Basel and Newcastle travel to Benfica.

Fenerbahce’s clash with Lazio is the only quarter-final not to feature a Premier League club.

For Chelsea, Thursday’s match against Rubin is the start of a gruelling fixture pile-up that involves playing five matches in 13 days as they look to do battle in three competitions.

Defeat to Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday left them looking vulnerable in a three-way fight with Tottenham and Arsenal for the final two Champions League qualification spots.

But victory over Manchester United in an FA Cup quarter-final replay 48 hours later set them up nicely for an end-of-season push for silverware.

“My priority is the top four and trying to win the next game, in the Europa League,” Chelsea’s persistently under-fire interim manager Rafa Benitez said after Monday’s hard-fought 1-0 win.

“We’re in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, quarter-finals of the Europa League. It’s a great season at the moment. It could be even better.”

CHELSEA FAVOURITES

Chelsea start as overwhelming favourites but Rubin are no pushovers having knocked out holders Atletico Madrid and their La Liga rivals Levante in two previous rounds to reach a European quarter-final for the first time.

The club from the Volga region, the last remaining Russian side in the competition, warmed up for the Chelsea clash with a 2-0 home win over Lokomotiv Moscow on Saturday, moving them into fourth place in the league table.

Tottenham, who like Chelsea are almost certainly prioritising their fight for a top-four finish in the Premier League, host Basel, the Swiss champions for the last three seasons.

The Swiss have lost only two league matches since Murat Yakin, a former Switzerland defender, took over as coach at the end of October and are unbeaten domestically this year. They are the only reigning domestic champions still in the Europa League.

They last reached the quarter-finals of a European competition in 2005/06 when Middlesbrough knocked them out of the then UEFA Cup.

“We are extremely excited about this draw,” said Yakin. “Tottenham Hotspur are a great team from a wonderful city. We have nothing to lose against them. We have earned the opportunity to play against teams like these. It’s already a huge accomplishment to be in the last eight of the Europa League.”

For Newcastle, the Europa League is a distraction from their domestic battle to avoid relegation with the club three points above the drop zone following a crushing 4-0 defeat to Manchester City on Saturday.

Manager Alan Pardew, who was handed a remarkable eight-year contract at the start of the season, has promised fans that his side will put in an improved display in Lisbon.

“It’s one of the great European adventures, trust me,” Pardew said.

“Their stadium is going to be rocking on Thursday night – and after our result they will be looking forward to us coming.

“But we will certainly be better than we were on Saturday.”

Fenerbahce host Lazio with the Turkish side looking to improve on a dismal record against Italian teams, having lost 10 of 13 clashes to date.

Lazio are fifth in Serie A after their 2-1 win over Catania on Saturday but still have an outside chance of finishing third and a place in the Champions League next season.

Coach Vladimir Petkovic, who speaks eight languages, said of Fenerbahce: “They are very good, especially at home. Turkish sides don’t usually shine when they play away, however.

“We have great respect for them but they are not unbeatable.”

(Writing by Toby Davis; additional reporting by Ece Toksabay, Brian Homewood, Gennady Fyodorov; editing by Justin Palmer)

The three Premier League sides were all kept apart in the draw for the last eight and head into Thursday’s quarter-final first legs looking to earn back some of the country’s European lustre.

European champions Chelsea host Russian outfit Rubin Kazan, London rivals Tottenham welcome Swiss side Basel and Newcastle travel to Benfica.

Fenerbahce’s clash with Lazio is the only quarter-final not to feature a Premier League club.

For Chelsea, Thursday’s match against Rubin is the start of a gruelling fixture pile-up that involves playing five matches in 13 days as they look to do battle in three competitions.

Defeat to Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday left them looking vulnerable in a three-way fight with Tottenham and Arsenal for the final two Champions League qualification spots.

But victory over Manchester United in an FA Cup quarter-final replay 48 hours later set them up nicely for an end-of-season push for silverware.

“My priority is the top four and trying to win the next game, in the Europa League,” Chelsea’s persistently under-fire interim manager Rafa Benitez said after Monday’s hard-fought 1-0 win.

“We’re in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, quarter-finals of the Europa League. It’s a great season at the moment. It could be even better.”

CHELSEA FAVOURITES

Chelsea start as overwhelming favourites but Rubin are no pushovers having knocked out holders Atletico Madrid and their La Liga rivals Levante in two previous rounds to reach a European quarter-final for the first time.

The club from the Volga region, the last remaining Russian side in the competition, warmed up for the Chelsea clash with a 2-0 home win over Lokomotiv Moscow on Saturday, moving them into fourth place in the league table.

Tottenham, who like Chelsea are almost certainly prioritising their fight for a top-four finish in the Premier League, host Basel, the Swiss champions for the last three seasons.

The Swiss have lost only two league matches since Murat Yakin, a former Switzerland defender, took over as coach at the end of October and are unbeaten domestically this year. They are the only reigning domestic champions still in the Europa League.

They last reached the quarter-finals of a European competition in 2005/06 when Middlesbrough knocked them out of the then UEFA Cup.

“We are extremely excited about this draw,” said Yakin. “Tottenham Hotspur are a great team from a wonderful city. We have nothing to lose against them. We have earned the opportunity to play against teams like these. It’s already a huge accomplishment to be in the last eight of the Europa League.”

For Newcastle, the Europa League is a distraction from their domestic battle to avoid relegation with the club three points above the drop zone following a crushing 4-0 defeat to Manchester City on Saturday.

Manager Alan Pardew, who was handed a remarkable eight-year contract at the start of the season, has promised fans that his side will put in an improved display in Lisbon.

“It’s one of the great European adventures, trust me,” Pardew said.

“Their stadium is going to be rocking on Thursday night – and after our result they will be looking forward to us coming.

“But we will certainly be better than we were on Saturday.”

Fenerbahce host Lazio with the Turkish side looking to improve on a dismal record against Italian teams, having lost 10 of 13 clashes to date.

Lazio are fifth in Serie A after their 2-1 win over Catania on Saturday but still have an outside chance of finishing third and a place in the Champions League next season.

Coach Vladimir Petkovic, who speaks eight languages, said of Fenerbahce: “They are very good, especially at home. Turkish sides don’t usually shine when they play away, however.

“We have great respect for them but they are not unbeatable.” (Writing by Toby Davis; additional reporting by Ece Toksabay, Brian Homewood, Gennady Fyodorov; editing by Justin Palmer)

Pilloried for resting players for Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League defeat at Southampton, Chelsea’s interim coach put all his Easter weekend eggs in one basket by gambling on a refreshed squad being able to book a spot in the semi-finals of the Cup.

Thanks to Demba Ba’s stunning volley and Petr Cech’s astonishing save from Javier Hernandez, Chelsea pulled off a 1-0 win in the quarter-final replay to leave two trophies hovering tantalisingly on the horizon.

With two words almost perfectly designed to provoke debate among Chelsea’s fractious fan base, Benitez declared they were in the midst of a “great season”.

While the Spaniard’s critics will point to their inconsistent league form that has left them in a three-way battle for two Champions League qualifying spots, Benitez has some justification.

They remain in the Premier League’s coveted top four, will play an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City with either Wigan Athletic or Millwall awaiting the victors, and have a winnable Europa League quarter-final against Rubin Kazan to come.

Not bad for a club that has spent much of the season tearing itself apart from inside, with fans protesting on the terraces and a pall of gloom hovering over Stamford Bridge like the persistent English winter.

What would London rivals Arsenal, without a trophy since 2005, give to be in their position?

IN VAIN

Even Benitez’s most vocal critics, of which there are many, would have been hard pushed to blame the former Liverpool boss for responding to an astonishing fixture pile-up by prioritising a cup tie that oozed glamour and potential for silverware.

Having played Southampton and United within 48 hours of each other, Chelsea are now set to embark on a run of five matches in 13 days.

It is likely to be an almost impossible juggling act for a manager whose every team sheet is scrutinised by fans who have called for his head since he walked through the door to replace terrace favourite Roberto Di Matteo.

In defending his squad rotation policy, Benitez, who made seven changes against United, called for balance.

It is an appeal that is likely to be in vain given their battle with Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal for Champions League qualification is likely to go to the wire.

“Before the international break we played against United, Steaua Bucharest and West Ham,” he said. “We were the best in the world. We lost against Southampton and we’re the worst in the world.

“You have to have balance. We only had 48 hours between games and don’t have a long (deep) squad. We had to approach Southampton in a different way because of the players we had on the pitch.

“These were skilful players with talent and ability. You cannot kill players by playing them two games in a row in that time. Sometimes, for you, a strong team is something different to what I pick.”

STRUGGLE TO SPIN

Benitez’s task is all the more difficult given he will not be able to call on England defenders Ashley Cole and Gary Cahill for their gruelling programme.

Cole limped off with a hamstring injury in the first half of the United clash and Cahill was already ruled out for two weeks because of a knee injury.

Benitez maintains the top four is his priority but having already made clear he will be quitting Stamford Bridge at the end of the season, he would be forgiven for eyeing some silverware to further gild his already impressive CV.

Chelsea are just one match away from their fifth FA Cup final in seven seasons, having lifted the trophy in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012.

They are now unbeaten in 29 FA Cup games, excluding their penalty shootout defeat to Everton in 2011. It is the longest unbeaten run ever by a team in the competition.

The Champions League is now so vital to clubs of Chelsea’s stature, that no matter what they win, Benitez would struggle to spin his spell at the club as a success if he failed to stay in the top four.

But a top-four finish with a side that trailed in sixth last season, allied to a trophy or maybe two would surely appease even those fans whose abusive chants and banners have hounded Benitez since he took the job in November.

(Reporting by Toby Davis; editing by Patrick Johnston)

Pilloried for resting players for Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League defeat at Southampton, Chelsea’s interim coach put all his Easter weekend eggs in one basket by gambling on a refreshed squad being able to book a spot in the semi-finals of the Cup.

Thanks to Demba Ba’s stunning volley and Petr Cech’s astonishing save from Javier Hernandez, Chelsea pulled off a 1-0 win in the quarter-final replay to leave two trophies hovering tantalisingly on the horizon.

With two words almost perfectly designed to provoke debate among Chelsea’s fractious fanbase, Benitez declared they were in the midst of a “great season”.

While the Spaniard’s critics will point to their inconsistent league form that has left them in a three-way battle for two Champions League qualifying spots, Benitez has some justification.

They remain in the Premier League’s coveted top four, will play an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City with either Wigan Athletic or Millwall awaiting the victors, and have a winnable Europa League quarter-final against Rubin Kazan to come.

Not bad for a club that has spent much of the season tearing itself apart from inside, with fans protesting on the terraces and a pall of gloom hovering over Stamford Bridge like the persistent English winter.

What would London rivals Arsenal, without a trophy since 2005, give to be in their position?

IN VAIN

Even Benitez’s most vocal critics, of which there are many, would have been hard pushed to blame the former Liverpool boss for responding to an astonishing fixture pile-up by prioritising a cup tie that oozed glamour and potential for silverware.

Having played Southampton and United within 48 hours of each other, Chelsea are now set to embark on a run of five matches in 13 days.

It is likely to be an almost impossible juggling act for a manager whose every team sheet is scrutinised by fans who have called for his head since he walked through the door to replace terrace favourite Roberto Di Matteo.

In defending his squad rotation policy, Benitez, who made seven changes against United, called for balance.

It is an appeal that is likely to be in vain given their battle with Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal for Champions League qualification is likely to go to the wire.

“Before the international break we played against United, Steaua Bucharest and West Ham,” he said. “We were the best in the world. We lost against Southampton and we’re the worst in the world.

“You have to have balance. We only had 48 hours between games and don’t have a long (deep) squad. We had to approach Southampton in a different way because of the players we had on the pitch.

“These were skilful players with talent and ability. You cannot kill players by playing them two games in a row in that time. Sometimes, for you, a strong team is something different to what I pick.”

STRUGGLE TO SPIN

Benitez’s task is all the more difficult given he will not be able to call on England defenders Ashley Cole and Gary Cahill for their gruelling programme.

Cole limped off with a hamstring injury in the first half of the United clash and Cahill was already ruled out for two weeks because of a knee injury.

Benitez maintains the top four is his priority but having already made clear he will be quitting Stamford Bridge at the end of the season, he would be forgiven for eyeing some silverware to further gild his already impressive CV.

Chelsea are just one match away from their fifth FA Cup final in seven seasons, having lifted the trophy in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012.

They are now unbeaten in 29 FA Cup games, excluding their penalty shootout defeat to Everton in 2011. It is the longest unbeaten run ever by a team in the competition.

The Champions League is now so vital to clubs of Chelsea’s stature, that no matter what they win, Benitez would struggle to spin his spell at the club as a success if he failed to stay in the top four.

But a top-four finish with a side that trailed in sixth last season, allied to a trophy or maybe two would surely appease even those fans whose abusive chants and banners have hounded Benitez since he took the job in November. (Reporting by Toby Davis; editing by Patrick Johnston)

In contrast to Adkins’s former club, who replaced him with Argentine Mauricio Pochettino, Reading have opted for a man with Premier League experience who also knows his way around the lower divisions should they fail to beat the drop.

Adkins, whose sacking by the promoted south-coast outfit two months ago came as a shock since his team had lost just twice in 12 league games, has eight matches to rescue his new club.

On paper, it looks an almost impossible task with Reading second from bottom in the table and seven points adrift of safety but Adkins is ready for the challenge.

“We’ve got to believe we can do it, I’ve joined Reading Football Club and I want to be in the Premier League,” the 48-year-old, who has signed a three-year-deal, told a news conference.

Reading were looking for a new manager after parting company with Brian McDermott on March 11 following four consecutive Premier League defeats.

They have since lost to league leaders Manchester United and face a difficult trip to Arsenal in their next Premier League outing on March 30 followed by a match at home to Adkins’s former club Southampton a week later.

“This is an appointment we have made both with the short and long term in mind and Nigel can take our club forward,” Reading’s Russian owner Anton Zingarevich said in a statement on the club’s website (www.readingfc.co.uk).

“I am delighted to bring Nigel to our club because he is perfect for us.

“He has great respect within the game, his CV speaks for itself and he has many attributes as a manager, he is progressive, he develops players, his teams play attacking, passing football but most of all he knows how to win games at all levels.”

‘CRAZY WORLD’

Adkins’s dismissal by Southampton in January came just after his side had fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with European champions Chelsea.

The sense of shock was heightened because Southampton chose to replace him with a manager who did not speak English and had enjoyed a largely unspectacular time in charge of La Liga side Espanyol.

Adkins joined Southampton in 2010 and oversaw back-to-back promotions from League One (third division) and the Championship (second division) to take them back to the top flight for the first time since 2005.

A string of Premier League managers rallied behind him to condemn the decision with Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson saying it was a “crazy world”.

Adkins, who had not spoken publicly since his departure from Southampton, did not want to dwell on the past and said he simply wanted to take the opportunity to thank his previous club’s staff, players and fans.

He said he was excited about the prospect of managing Reading and that he was taking the job having gathered more experience in his short time away from the game.

“I’ve had two months out, I’ve gone round Europe, seen different things and I’m excited about the future now,” he said.

Several managers had been linked with the job at Reading with Brighton boss Gus Poyet reportedly having talks before deciding to stay put.

Former Swindon Town manager Paolo Di Canio was also a potential candidate.

(Reporting by Toby Davis; Editing by Ed Osmond and Sonia Oxley)