By Tonight is the night. A night of destiny for either Manchester United or Chelsea. Tonight is the Champions League Final. Kick-off is 7:45pm BST; 10:45pm Local Time. The game is being shown live both on Sky Sports and ITV1 in the UK. It'll be carried live globally by a myriad of other channels.
There's no disguising who I'll be rooting for. It's won't be the blues of Chelsea. I'm a die-hard Manchester United fan and I'll be glued to the TV for the entirety of the game. If anybody tries to contact me, they will be ignored. The only way I'm leaving the front of the TV is if the house burns down around me.
The press conferences yesterday gave some indication of the mood of both teams.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was 15 minutes early for his and happily joked with Wes Brown and Rio Ferdinand before proceedings started in earnest. In buoyant mood throughout, he made reference to not letting down the Busby Babes, exuded confidence in his team and ominously predicted that they can get better. He ended proceedings with a beaming smile and his arms spread wide, "I love you all, I've come to spread peace."
By contrast, Chelsea manager Avram Grant was in a glum and dour mood when he arrived for his press conference 15 minutes late. He responded very defensively to a stream of questions regarding his relationship with Chelsea's owner, the support he has received from the club and questions about his future. Whilst Ferguson is fully aware of the huge part he has to play it would appear that Grant feels differently, "I am a very small part of this."
Both teams should have full squads to choose from when the teams are announced prior to kick-off; although a rash challenge by Claude Makelele on Ashley Cole in a training session caused some concern for Chelsea. Cole resumed training after some treatment but moved gingerly and eventually left training early.
A statement released on Chelsea's official website stated "In a challenge with Claude Makelele in front of hundreds of cameras and the world football press, Ashley Cole hurt his right ankle. He was treated, it was tested, then strapped - but after consultation between Grant, club doctor Bryan English and physios Dave Hancock and Thierry Laurent - Cole resumed and took full part in the final training game - only disappearing down the tunnel after the players had listened to Avram's address and been stood-down for a final kickaround."
Come 10pm this evening; or thereabouts, the destiny of this season's Champions League trophy will have been decided. Hopefully, as a Manchester United fan, I will be celebrating by then.
