English rivals on mission to Moscow

After Spain in 2000 and Italy in 2003, it will be England's turn in Moscow on 21 May when Manchester United FC and Chelsea FC step out in the Luznhiki Stadium for the first all-English UEFA Champions League final. In the same stadium where, last October, England's national team took a costly stumble along the road to UEFA EURO 2008™ – losing to the Russia team who eventually overtook them in the qualifying race – the Premier League's two strongest sides will contest the title of Europe's finest. If it produces as much excitement as Chelsea's 2-1 victory over United last weekend, then a predicted global TV audience of up to 100 million people will be in for a treat.

'Great achievement'
Given the financial muscle of the Premier League it was going to happen sooner or later – and would have done so last year had United not succumbed in their semi-final against AC Milan. The only previous time two English clubs contested a European final, when Tottenham Hotspur FC beat Wolverhampton Wanderers FC over two legs in the conclusion to the 1972/73 UEFA Cup campaign, there was not a single player of the 25 involved from beyond the British Isles.

English influence
By contrast United and Chelsea between them featured ten different nationalities beside British in this week's second-leg matches. Such is the nature of the modern, polyglot Premier League, that United v Chelsea will pit American against Russian owners with Roman Abramovich on home territory in Moscow. Yet it would be unwise to understate the influence of the English contingent in both camps. Didier Drogba may have led the line magnificently for Chelsea in their 3-2 second-leg success against Liverpool FC – scoring two fine goals – but the performance of the night came from Frank Lampard. Playing less than a week after his mother's death, the England midfielder showed courage in abundance by taking and scoring the penalty that swung the tie decisively Chelsea's way eight minutes into extra time.

Scholes pledge
United's hero was also an Englishman, albeit a player whose days as a goal-scoring midfielder had seemed long behind him. Paul Scholes, whose midfield battle with Lampard in Moscow could be pivotal, had not found the net since last August before driving an unstoppable shot past Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdés for the only goal of a tense contest at Old Trafford. With Cristiano Ronaldo having one of his quieter games and Wayne Rooney absent, it had fallen to one of the old guard. Sir Alex has already promised Scholes a starting place in the final, mindful that the 33-year-old missed the 1999 triumph over FC Bayern München through suspension. If Lady Luck took United in her embrace against Bayern – when a dramatic late turnaround secured their second European crown on what would have been the 90th birthday of Sir Matt Busby, architect of the first in 1968 - it is tempting to think fate might be with them again 50 years on from the Munich air disaster.

Ferdinand praised
"Fate is fate by I think the important thing is that we're in the final," said Sir Alex, doubtless relieved after losing three previous semi-finals. Where United hit the wall against Milan 12 months earlier, this time their squad was strong enough to withstand the loss of Rooney and Nemanja Vidić against the Blaugrana. Wes Brown performed admirably alongside Ferdinand in the centre of a reshuffled defence and for all the attention on their much-vaunted forwards, it should be remembered United have conceded just five goals en route to Moscow. Michael Carrick described Ferdinand afterwards as "probably the best defender in the world" and Ferdinand v Drogba in Moscow promises to be some duel.

Grant question
Another fascinating sub-plot will be Sir Alex v Avram Grant. The Israeli has received little credit since replacing José Mourinho yet has withstood long absences from key players such as Petr Čech, Terry, Lampard and Drogba to keep Chelsea in contention for the Premier League and, moreover, has now succeeded where the 'Special One' failed by leading the Londoners past Liverpool FC and into their first final. While Sir Alex has needed 104 games in the competition to get United back to the final since triumphing in 1999, Grant has achieved the feat after just eleven. "To get to where we are and still to be questioning the manager's role at the club is unbelievable really," captain John Terry said when asked whether reaching Moscow would cement Grant's place at the helm next season.
  
Historical pointer
The England defender described reaching their first final as a "massive milestone" and it was telling that the on-field celebrations lasted longer at Stamford Bridge than at Old Trafford. "It's different from a Chelsea point of view. It's the first time in the club's history so it's a massive milestone for the club and for the players, very different from Man United who have been there." Who will be celebrating in Moscow on 21 May remains to be seen but, as the pair's Premier League title race comes to a head, here is a curious historical pointer: in the two previous UEFA Champions League all-country finals, it was the side who finished lower in their domestic competition, Real Madrid CF in 2000 and Milan in 2003, who ended up as champions of Europe.