Champions League hero Henrik Larsson departed Old Trafford to a standing ovation and left Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson with a major dilemma as the Red Devils overcame Lille to reach the last eight.

Larsson's 71st-minute header settled a nervy contest and ultimately ensured United advanced to the quarter-finals for the first time in four years.

It was the perfect farewell gift from the veteran Swede, who is due to head for home next Wednesday, having completed a successful 10-week loan stint from Helsingborgs.

But, with Louis Saha out for four weeks with a hamstring strain and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sidelined until the end of the month following knee surgery, how tempted Ferguson must be to reverse his oft-stated pledge not to ask the 35-year-old to stay on.

Given Larsson will be in Manchester for the UEFA celebration game next Tuesday, at the very least Ferguson must be wondering whether it is worthwhile inviting him to remain for the crucial Premiership clash with Bolton the following Saturday.

The Scot will probably decide against, but in doing so, he will seriously weaken a side who lived in fear of Saha getting injured throughout the opening half of the campaign.

In fact, with injuries starting to mount, United suffered another major worry before the end as Mikael Silvestre was carried off on a stretcher with a serious-looking shoulder problem.

Saha's current return date would rule him out of the first leg of United's quarter-final and, on the evidence of this largely sterile affair, he will be missed.

After all the aggravation and bad blood that continued to boil since the stormy encounter at the Stade Felix-Bollaert a fortnight ago, the rivals served up a remarkably mundane opening period.

Aside from one seemingly accidental swinging Peter Odemwingie elbow that bloodied Nemanja Vidic's nose midway through the half, there was hardly any of the excessive physicality that had been expected.

In fact, the only reminder of that amazing first leg came when Cristiano Ronaldo jokingly attempted to take a quick free-kick after Larsson had been fouled 35 yards out.

Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo was quick to show both sides play would not be restarted without him blowing the whistle, decisive action that would have saved his Dutch counterpart Eric Braamhaar so much grief in France.

Not that Cantalejo was mistake-free, although at least he quickly corrected his error when he booked Matthieu Chalme for a late tackle on Ronaldo, having initially dished out the yellow card to Kader Keita.

Ronaldo was also cautioned before the opening period was through for diving under Chalme's tackle inside the area. It certainly was not a penalty but given the Portugal winger's unfortunate reputation for going to ground rather too easily, it was a harsh call since the defender had made some contact.

With Paul Scholes the most creative force on the field, it was no surprise United were the greater threat, although Wayne Rooney's hopes of ending a two-and-a-half-year Champions League goal drought only met with disappointment as he slammed a volley straight at Chalme.

The resulting corner brought United their best chance of the half though as Michael Carrick, handed the set-piece duties as Ryan Giggs was left on the bench, drifted it to the far post, where O'Shea planted a header against the bar.

After his matchwinner against Liverpool at the weekend, it would have completed a remarkable five days for the Irishman, who, in the middle of a five-man midfield was the chief beneficiary of Giggs' omission and managed to outshine most of his team-mates.

In fairness to Lille, they were a far more enterprising force in attack than they had been in any of the three previous meetings between the sides in the past two years.

And with Keita causing problems and Ludovik Obraniak swinging a series of excellent free-kicks from the touchline, the goal they craved was not completely out of the question.

Jean Makoun should certainly have done much more than bounce a header into Edwin van der Sar's arms after he had sprung the United offside trap and met one of Obraniak's teasing efforts.

However, it was after half-time the French side really threatened, with Odemwingie nodding against a post after some uncharacteristically poor defending from Vidic had created unease inside the home box.

It was the start of an uncomfortable period for United, who were stuck between pushing forward for a tie-clinching goal or preserving the status quo.

There appeared to have been no obvious resolution to the dilemma until Ronaldo embarked on his forceful burst and offered Larsson the chance to send United through.

It was Larsson's third goal for the Red Devils and he was quick to acknowledge Ronaldo's contribution. The United fans were quick to pay tribute to the Swede as he was replaced by Alan Smith shortly afterwards. The question is, will it be for the last time?

Teams

Man Utd Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Silvestre,Carrick, Scholes, O'Shea, Ronaldo (Richardson 82),Rooney (Park 82), Larsson (Smith 74).

Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Heinze, Brown, Giggs.

Booked: Ronaldo, Richardson.

Goals: Larsson 72.

Lille Sylva, Chalme, Tavlaridis, Plestan, Tafforeau, Makoun,Dumont (Fauvergue 74), Keita, Obraniak,Michel Bastos (Debuchy 46), Odemwingie (Mirallas 74).

Subs Not Used: Malicki, Youla, Franquart, Lichtsteiner.

Booked: Makoun, Chalme, Tafforeau, Plestan.

Agg (2-0)

Att: 75,182

Ref: Luis Medina Cantalejo (Sevilla).