Champions League Final Preview: Manchester United v Chelsea

It has been dubbed as the biggest game in English football’s 130-year history, Manchester United versus Chelsea in the Champions League Final.

It is Chelsea’s first Champions League final, and United are looking for their second Champions League title – second Premier and Champions League double in fact – in nine years.

The Blues are sweating on the fitness on Ashley Cole following Claude Makelele’s shocking two-footed lunge in training (doesn’t look like anyone likes the former Arsenal man).

John Terry is expected to play despite dislocating his elbow in the Premier League clash against Bolton. Ricardo Carvalho and Didier Drogba are also expected to both be fit after recovering from back and knee problems respectively.

Nemanja Vidic sat out United’s final training session but Sir Alex Ferguson has said that he will play; as will Paul Scholes, who missed out on the 1999 final through suspension.

The biggest selection headache for Ferguson is who to leave out of his squad for the club’s biggest game in years

Final Premier League Positions: Man Utd 1st, Chelsea 2nd.

Champions League/European Cup Victories: Man Utd – 2, Chelsea – 0.

My Prediction: United have undoubtedly been the best team in England (and probably Europe) this season. They play the better football, have more home-grown players, came out on top in the poll but dammit it’s United. I’m torn. Manchester United to win in extra-time.

Champions League Final Poll Results: Is it Manchester United or Chelsea for you?

The results are in, and they’re more one-sided than I thought they were going to be…

Who will win the Champions League?

Manchester United – 64%

Chelsea – 35%

Who cares? – 1%.

…most polls seem to be more one-sided than I thought they were going to be don’t they? I really must sort out my thought process.

After months of fevered speculation, Ipswich’s new sponsor is…

…erm, Ipswich Town’s new owner.

I think that is what is known the trade as “an anticlimax”

Speaking on the official Town website, a Marcus Evans Group spokesman said:

Ipswich Town’s ambition is to establish itself back in the top flight of English football and achieve long term success in the Premier League.

The world wide media coverage that comes with playing in the Premier League and which football attracts in general, provides an ideal platform to further develop awareness of the Marcus Evans brand to an international audience.

So through the partnership we aim to help return Ipswich Town Football Club to the Premier League and maintain the Club’s status at that level, as well as reinforcing the position of the Group as a trusted global brand.

Let’s not try and run before we can walk, hey boys? But fear not Town fans – it’s not as if nobody else was interested according to Sales and Marketing Director, Andrew Goulborn:

There was serious interest from other high profile companies, but the long term commitment and financial support offered by the Marcus Evans Group proved decisive.

Whatever you say love.