Few Champions League finals have featured two clubs that know each other as well as Manchester United and Chelsea.
The two English clubs have faced each other three times in the last year, including Premier League games and an FA Community Shield match. They split their Premier games and United won the other in a shootout. United and Chelsea also were watching each other’s every move toward the end of the season as they battled for the Premier title, which United won on the last day.
Now the two clubs face off Wednesday in Moscow–marking the first all-England final in Champions League history. Here is a look at the matchup:
MAN U.
KEY PLAYER
Cristiano Ronaldo. United has shown it can win big games without a strong performance from Ronaldo, but United is at its best when its most dangerous goal-scorer is on top of his game.
STORY LINE
Many already believe Ronaldo is the best player in the world, but he can confirm it with a victory Wednesday.
SUBPLOT
Carlos Tevez could go from saving West Ham United from relegation during the 2006-2007 season to helping United win “the double” (Premier, Champions leagues) the following season.
FINALS HISTORY Won in both of its Champions League finals appearances, a 2-1 victory over Germany’s Bayern Munich in 1999 and a 4-1 victory over Portugal’s Benfica in 1968.
QUOTABLE
“It’s a horrible feeling waiting for the final. I would like to go to bed tonight and wake up on Wednesday. It’s a bit like Christmas when you’re a kid, so I just can’t wait. I’ve been playing FIFA on X-Box with my mates. My girlfriend’s not too happy with me, but it keeps me occupied. I’ve played in three cup finals, winning one and losing two, so hopefully I can even that out.”
–Wayne Rooney
BY THE NUMBERS
759 The record number of games Ryan Giggs will have played for United if he makes an appearance Wednesday. Giggs’ 758 games currently has him tied with Sir Bobby Charlton.
CHELSEA
KEY PLAYER
Petr Cech. It’s the 26-year-old goalkeeper who ultimately will have to keep Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez from lighting up the Blues’ goal. And if the game goes into a shootout, Chelsea will need Cech to prove why he’s considered one of the world’s best keepers.
STORY LINE
After appearing to be out of the Premier League race, Chelsea stormed back late in the season only to lose out to United on the final day. A victory over United in the Champions League final would be the sweetest revenge.
SUBPLOT
England manager Fabio Capello took the prestigious captain’s armband away from John Terry when he took over and since has given it to Steven Gerrard and United captain Rio Ferdinand. “I want the armband . . . maybe a performance in this final would go a long way to getting those things back,” Terry said.
FINALS HISTORY
Never has played in the Champions League final but has six players who have won the title with other clubs: Nicolas Anelka, Claude Makelele, Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho, Andrei Shevchenko and Juliano Belletti.
QUOTABLE
“Having won the title, you would say it’s a big boost from them and they celebrated, which in one way can be distracting. When you know you’ve already won something, even if you don’t want to, you can relax. In the back of your mind, you have already succeeded. . . . This could be the advantage for us.”
–Petr Cech
BY THE NUMBERS
0 The number of times Ronaldo has scored against Chelsea.
PATH TO THE FINAL
Knockout round
Man U. 2 Lyon 1
Quarterfinal
Man U. 3 Roma 0
Semifinals
Man U. 1 Barcelona 0
Knockout round
Chelsea 2 Olympiakos 1
Quarterfinal
Chelsea 3 Fenerbahce 2
Semifinals
Chelsea 4 Liverpool 3
Note: Totals are aggregate.
PREDICTION: MANCHESTER UNITED, 2-1
The only thing higher than United’s scoring total this season is its confidence
Ronaldo scores his first goal against Chelsea and Tevez adds the game-winner to give United the double.
