Moscow: In the first all-English final at a European championship Chelsea face Manchester United in the Champions League final on Wednesday night at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
Just a few days ago emotional scenes at Wigan saw Manchester United win the English Premier League (EPL) title this season. The Red Devils were the undisputed Champions of England and it was their 17th title triumph in all.
For their opponents, Chelsea, it is their first Champions League final and the Blues would want to avenge their EPL loss to the Reds with nothing less than a maiden European crown.
"It is massive when you see the trophy and you walk in the room. The atmosphere that surrounds the whole game is awesome and the biggest game that I'll certainly be involved in my career up to this date and Frank (Lampard) the same," John Terry, Chelsea skipper, said.
"We know that a losing finalist is pretty much forgotten in history so we're looking to go the full step and then it's something we can all put next to our name so we really want to finish as Champions League winner," Frank Lampard added.
But Manchester United are in rampaging form thanks to a devastating forward line.
Christiano Ronaldo has already scored 41 goals this season while Carlos Tevez has 19 and Wayne Rooney has 20 and in the 50th anniversary of the Munich tragedy Sir Alex Ferguson's young team would want to deliver a golden double as their tribute to a dream that died before it could live.
"Yes, an illustrious history but there is a weakness in terms of the European trophies that we've won and I hope that we can go some way to making that better tomorrow night," Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United coach, said.
The only cause of the concern is the pitch as the artificial turf has been replaced with natural grass and it still remains untested.
"We came here last time with England and played on an artificial pitch so we'll have no qualms. I think the manager said before January time in England sometimes the pitches are not the best so if it's not up to the standard of some pitches in England in these kind of times we'll have to deal with it," Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand said.
About 40,000 English fans have flown in for the game and there is no doubt that on Wednesday night vodka will flow faster than traffic in Moscow.
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