Champions League Preview; Manchester United v Chelsea
Undoubtedly the biggest game ever played between two English clubs takes place on Wednesday (May 21) when Manchester United face Chelsea in the Champions League final in Moscow.
The Luzhniki Stadium is the setting for the first ever all-English final as Sir Alex Ferguson’s side go in search of a third European title and Chelsea chase their first. United pipped Chelsea to the Premier League title just 10 days ago and will be looking to make it a double in the Russian capital.
Some argue that United’s title success gives them a psychological edge ahead of the final. The theory goes that Ferguson’s men will be buoyant following their domestic triumph, allowing them to play with the kind of freedom which sees them at their devastating best. Yet there is another train of thought. Failure to capture the big eared trophy, particularly against English opposition would count as one of the most enormous disappointments in United history, and it would be a long time before those associated with the club could again reflect on the successes of the season.
Meanwhile Chelsea are playing under a different kind of pressure. Having come up short in the league they stand on the brink of a trophy-less season. Defeat in the Carling Cup final to Tottenham Hotspur in February piled the pressure on manager Avram Grant, and it remains unclear whether the Israeli coach will be at Stamford Bridge next season regardless of the result in Moscow.
Yet Grant has recovered from that Wembley loss to lead Chelsea on a run of 15 games unbeaten in all competitions. Their last loss of any sort came at the unlikely hands of Barnsley in the FA Cup at Oakwell in March, but since then their Premier League scalps have included Manchester United. Two goals from Michael Ballack helped Grant’s side to a 2-1 win over the Old Trafford club at the end of April, setting up a grand finale to the title race.
United take a squad of 24 to Moscow, with Nani available again after serving a domestic ban for his puerile head-butt on West Ham United defender Lucas Neill. Wayne Rooney has returned from the hip injury he sustained in the defeat at Stamford Bridge a month ago, while Paul Scholes looks a certain starter. The former England midfielder missed out on United’s epic triumph in Barcelona
through suspension nine years ago, but reports suggest that Ferguson will make the veteran playmaker the first name on the teamsheet.
Chelsea should field a full strength side also, but there will still be concerns about the fitness of some key players. Chief among those is John Terry who dislocated an elbow against Bolton on the final day of the league campaign, yet the former England captain is adamant that he will be ready to start. Furthermore, central defensive partner Ricardo Carvalho has been troubled with a back injury recently. Grant will need both his defensive lynchpins fit and ready to go full tilt if his side are going to nullify the attacking threat of Rooney and the incomparable Cristiano Ronaldo.
Didier Drogba has also been struggling with a knee problem, and his availability will be a key factor in whether Chelsea have the firepower to trouble a defence marshalled brilliantly by Rio Ferdinand, ably assisted by the injury-prone but outstanding Nemanja Vidic.
For Chelsea, the decision on whether Ashley Cole or Wayne Bridge will be entrusted with the job of containing Ronaldo will be another huge factor. Cole looks likely to get the nod, and will need all of his experience to contain the Portuguese. If selected Cole will play in his second Champions League final having been on the losing side for Arsenal in 2006 against Barcelona in Paris. Team-mate Juliano Belletti scored the winning goal for Barca that day, but looks unlikely to start at right-back after a disappointing season in west London. Instead, Grant looks likely to move Michael Essien in to the full-back role, offering Jon Obi Mikel the opportunity in midfield alongside Claude Makelele and Frank Lampard.
Both sides have raised concerns about the playing surface in Moscow, and it is to be hoped that the ground staff can provide a pitch worthy of a showpiece event. The media has been full of discussion about the pitch, which was re-laid after UEFA insisted that the Champions League final could not be played on the artificial surface which is normally used at the Luzhniki.
Some might suggest that a poor surface suits the more aerial style of Chelsea, but the uncertainty surrounding the futures of Drogba, Lampard, Makelele and even Petr Cech has led some to suggest that Grant’s men will be at a disadvantage psychologically. Tabloid tittle-tattle surrounding Ronaldo and a possible move to Real Madrid could redress the balance a little, but it is difficult to see the world’s form player being allowed to leave Manchester any time soon.
At prediction time one just hopes that the two sides produce better fare than was on offer during last season’s FA Cup final. Chelsea nicked a quite turgid affair by the only goal in extra time, as both sides succumbed to the morbid fear of losing a major trophy to a fierce rival. The stakes are even higher this time around, but if pushed I would suggest that United’s attacking flair and Ferguson’s greater experience will just give them the edge in a tight one.
Verdict; Manchester United 1 Chelsea 0
By Stephen Orford
20 May 2008
