Reuters

Abramovich excited over final

Updated 09.15 Wed May 21 2008

Keywords: Moscow, Champions League, Roman Abramovich, Chelsea, Avram Grant

Chelsea manager Avram Grant has revealed the excitement of club owner Roman Abramovich over the Champions League final in Moscow.

The billionaire Russian apparently fell in love with football when he watched a Champions League game between Manchester United and Real Madrid in 2003.

"It was his dream and that of every player and supporter of Chelsea to be in the final. It is very special" - Avram Grant

Within months, he bought Chelsea and spent millions building a team that has since won the Premier League twice, the 2007 FA Cup and the Carling Cup twice.

But the Champions League is the ultimate prize and many Russians will be cheering for Chelsea at the Luzhniki Stadium.

Grant said: "You can imagine how he feels, he came from Moscow. It was his dream and that of every player and supporter of Chelsea to be in the final. It is very special."

The Chelsea boss also admitted he has a difficult personal task to outwit Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Grant's first game as Chelsea manager was a 2-0 defeat at United but they have since beaten United 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in a match that kept the Premier League title race alive.

Grant said: "Manchester United are a very good team and have had a very good season. It is not easy to score against them. The forwards are very good, the midfield is very good.

"You can prepare for many things but you cannot prepare for everything. It will be a good game between two very good teams. They are dangerous as a team because they are very balanced. I really respect Alex as a person and as a manager.

He has done great things.

"Not many managers have been in the final of the Champions League and I respect him. But I want to win."