The prospect of one, or even two, all-English Champions League quarter-finals emerged as a real possibility last night after Chelsea became the third Barclays Premier League team to reach the last eight courtesy of a 3-0 win over Olympiacos. Having drawn 0-0 in Athens a fortnight earlier, first-half goals by Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard set Chelsea on their way to a comfortable aggregate victory at Stamford Bridge before Salomon Kalou added a third at the start of the second half.

Avram Grant, the first-team coach, feigned a lack of interest when asked about a potential Premier League tie next month, although he predicted a resumption of Chelsea’s long-running rivalry with Liverpool if both clubs make it through to the semi-finals.

Rafael Benítez’s side should make it four from four in the quarter-finals when they defend a 2-0 first-leg lead away to Inter Milan next week, a sign that the Premier League’s financial strength is reaping dividends on the pitch. “I don’t care so much,” Grant said. “Any team in the next round will be tough and we came from a tough group. Two teams from our group are in the quarter-finals, us and Schalke. Any game will be difficult, but if we get through to the semi-finals it will be against Liverpool again.”

Grant was more voluble when asked to praise his players, who extended their remarkable run without conceding a goal in this competition to 10 hours and 21 minutes. Chelsea’s win against limited opponents was as straightforward as Arsenal’s victory over AC Milan the previous evening had been stunning and — Barcelona apart — the non-English clubs in the last eight should hold few fears after AS Roma eliminated Real Madrid and Schalke beat FC Porto on penalties.

Chelsea’s record of four quarter- final appearances in the past five years makes them among the most consistent clubs in Europe, with a first knockout round defeat by Barcelona, the eventual winners, two years ago their only real blemish in the Roman Abramovich era, but going so close on so many occasions has only increased his desperation to win the competition. The Chelsea owner indicated that this is the trophy he covets above all others by returning from his governor’s duties at the Russian presidential elections to watch last night’s game and though he will have enjoyed the result, the standard of entertainment left something to be desired.

The Greeks came bearing the gift of qualification, their ambition so limited that it was a wonder they had bothered to travel at all. “I’m happy because we won the game,” Grant said. “We know Olympiacos always score away from home — they scored two goals against Werder Bremen, Lazio and Real Madrid in the group stage — and I’m happy with the team. We were mature, controlled the game and played some good football.

“I have every confidence in the team. I’ve believed in them from the first day, even if no one else did. We’re keeping clean sheets because we’re controlling the game, with 60 per cent of the possession.”

The only blemish was an ankle injury sustained by Petr Cech, the goalkeeper, on the eve of the match, which presented Carlo Cudicini with his first Champions League appearance of the season. “Any game Carlo has played this year has been very good,” Grant said. “Cech damaged his ankle in training yesterday and we will see how he is today. Hopefully he won’t be out for too long.”