May 20, 2008, 21:39 GMT
Moscow - The stage was set for the first Champions League final involving two English clubs, with both Manchester United and Chelsea appearing relaxed and confident ahead of Wednesday's clash.
Both Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson and Chelsea counterpart Avram Grant were in an upbeat mood as their teams had their first test of the Luzhniki Stadium pitch in Moscow.
The new pitch - twice relaid over an artificial playing surface - has come in for criticism, but this was downplayed by both UEFA and the coaches Tuesday.
Neither did any of the players seem perturbed by the late 10:45 pm (1845 GMT) kick-off time.
'This is a huge game and they could have put it on at four o'clock in the morning and we still would have turned up,' said United defender Rio Ferdinand.
Chelsea had an injury scare in Tuesday evening's training session when England left-back Ashley Cole appeared to hurt his ankle in a challenge with Claude Makelele. He needed treatment but later continued.
Defenders Ricardo Carvalho, John Terry and striker Didier Drogba are all expected to be fit after recent injuries.
Grant will have to choose whether to keep Michael Essien at right-back ahead of Paolo Ferreira or Juliano Belletti, and will likely choose between Florent Malouda or Salomon Kalou to aid Drogba up front.
Both coaches have full-strength squads, and Alex Ferguson's most important decision will be whom to name on the substitutes' bench.
Having just beaten Chelsea to the Premier League, United could win a first Champions League and domestic league double since 1998/99 and their third European Cup or Champions League crown.
Chelsea are meanwhile contesting their first European Cup or Champions League final, although they twice won the Cup Winners' Cup.
Ferguson admitted to a selection dilemma but said he believed that one of his subs could have the biggest impact on the game - just as in 1999 when two players came off the bench to clinch victory in the final over Bayern Munich in Barcelona.
Ryan Giggs, who will overtake Sir Bobby Charlton's club record of 758 appearances if he features in Moscow, appears to be a candidate for the bench.
'In 1999 two subs won it for me,' Ferguson said, recalling the late goals by Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer which gave United a 2-1 victory in stoppage time over Bayern Munich.
Ferguson said he would tell his players the team on Wednesday afternoon. 'It is not easy, but I have my team in my mind,' he said.
For United, centre-back Nemanja Vidic will definitely play after recovering from a head injury, Ferguson said.
Paul Scholes, who missed the 1999 final through suspension, has been promised a place in the starting line-up, leaving Ferguson to decide who to accompany him in midfield.
Park Ji-Sung has done well enough on the left recently to keep his place, with Cristiano Ronaldo on the right and Michael Carrick a candidate in the midfield holding role, with Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney up front.
Ferguson said United would be in better shape than in their FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea last year.
'We are fresher - much fitter. The 10-day preparation has helped us but that applies to Chelsea also,' he said.
'Last season we had no real reserves to change the game for the final. This time we have. That will make the difference.
'Sometimes the games are won by your substitutes and we are in a stronger position here than last year.
'I trust my players. Maybe they don't have the overall experience in terms of age as Chelsea, but they have the nerve, they have the courage. This will make some difference.'
Ferguson also said the history surrounding the game, with the match coming on the 50th anniversary year of the Munich air disaster, would only inspire him and the team.
Five surviving players of the air crash have been invited by United to watch the final.
Meanwhile captain Terry and midfielder Frank Lampard spoke of their desire to be European champions after the disappointment of three semi-final defeats in the past four years.
'The atmosphere around the whole game is awesome. It is the biggest game of my career and I just want to get my hands on the trophy,' Terry said.
Thousands of Manchester United and Chelsea fans are heading to Moscow for the final. About 40,000 fans were expected for the game, with visa regulations waived for match-ticket holders.
Russian authorities have deployed some 6,000 police and soldiers to deal with security in Moscow.
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