ON THE COUCH:Johnny gets it spot on; the Dog and Duck would have beaten this woeful German side

THE DAY began ominously enough. Empire Levant was favourite for the 4.20 at Punchestown, but we were warned by the RTÉ team that he was running out of steam at the end of a long season, so it was far from guaranteed that he’d romp home to victory.

Their negativity seemed unwarranted early on as he led the field, but then he made a mistake three out, was caught by his chasers, overtaken, and had to settle for fourth.

“Horse racing, bloody hell,” Empire Levant’s co-owner must have concluded.

It was, of course, the second time in four days that Alex Ferguson had suffered a sporting set-back, just when success seemed unavoidable, so it was highly unlikely that he’d risk a hat-trick of disappointments by taking Schalke lightly.

And, apart from leaving out Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, Fabio, Park, Carrick, Rooney and Hernandez, he opted for caution and respect, pretty much sticking to the team that played Arsenal.

“Eight changes?” said a gobsmacked Bill O’Herlihy, “is he dicing with death?”

The panel – John Giles, Liam Brady and a remarkably fresh looking Eamon Dunphy – were in three minds. Brady reckoned Ferguson was indeed taking a bit of a chance, so tipped Schalke to win 1-0, but Giles, the first leg still fresh in his memory, had a notion that Ferguson could put out the Dog and Duck reserves and they’d still beat the Germans.

“You thought they were the worst team you ever saw in a Champions League semi-final,” said Bill. “They were, Bill, and on the evidence of what I saw last week I don’t think it really matters tonight what team Alex Ferguson puts out, I don’t see any way back for Schalke.”

But might United do an Empire Levant? Richard Sadlier – for it was he, and not Dunphy – didn’t think so, but he was less convinced than Giles that it would be a romp, and less certain than Brady that it would be tricky.

What Sadlier wanted more than anything was for the much abused Darron Gibson to have a decent night, and after the fella made the first and scored the second he was well on his way to having just that.

Mind you Schalke pulled one back before the break, but United were still on their feet as they approached the final hurdle.

“A lot better, Bill,” said Giles of the Germans at half-time, resisting, to his credit, adding “they couldn’t have been any bleedin’ worse.”

Brady had suggested before the game that with nothing to lose – well, except the match – Schalke might loosen up a bit and play 100 per cent better than they did last week, a point that was echoed by Gordon Strachan at half-time over on ITV. “I’m a bit like that with my golf,” he said, “once I have three double bogeys in a row I’m great.”

Second half and Schalke had two more double bogeys in the shape of a couple of Anderson goals, leaving them needing to bag five holes-in-one to go through, so to speak. It’s a funny old game, George Hamilton observed, but not that funny.

Full-time and a beaming Ferguson, Empire Levant’s woes temporarily forgotten, hugged his players, an experience that always seems to frighten the life out of them.

Bill doffed his cap to Ferguson, conceding that after dicing with death he’d come out alive. “Those people who thought he was taking a chance have got their comeuppance, haven’t they,” he said, wearing the look of a man who’d just woken from his slumber.

“As the game went on it became more and more boring,” he said, explaining his sleepiness.”

“Yeah, it was a bit boring and monotonous towards the end, it was a stroll,” agreed Sadlier, prompting Bill to observe: “We never seem to give United credit, we’re always carping.”

“You were the one who said it was boring!” the panel replied as one.

So, it’s United v Barcelona. “Mouth-watering,” said Brady, “although I’d hoped a team from north London would have been there.”

“Spurs were never going to make it, Liam,” Giles chuckled.

“They got further than we did, John,” said the Gooner.

Off to Wem-ber-lee, then. Should be tasty. “Clear favourites,” said Brady of Barcelona, but if Empire Levant can get a second wind you’d just never know.