Five ways to win in Moscow

Chelsea's preparations for the Champions League final suffered a potentially damaging blow last night when Ashley Cole, the England defender who would be charged with marking Cristiano Ronaldo, limped out of their final training session at the Luzhniki Stadium. The left back suffered a badly swollen ankle after a rash challenge from Claude Makelele, leaving his participation this evening in doubt.

Cole twice attempted to return to the pitch after having heavy strapping applied to his right ankle, ignoring Makelele's apology on the second occasion as he grimaced in pain, before retreating down the tunnel early in the company of Billy McCulloch, a club masseur. Chelsea will make a final decision after a light training session this morning and are hoping that the swelling will have receded enough to enable him to play. Wayne Bridge is on standby to make his first Champions League appearance since December.

Chelsea's players have had little luck in the stadium where one of their most famous fans, Sebastian Coe, raced to victory in the 1,500 metres at the 1980 Olympic Games. John Terry pulled out of England's ill-fated European Championship qualifier against Russia in October after aggravating a knee injury on the artificial pitch - since replaced by turf - the day before the match, a defeat that Cole missed after suffering a knee injury four days earlier against Estonia.

Bridge was also out, because of a hip injury, but may now be drafted in for what would be only his fourth Champions League start of the season. Cole's understudy did not play in any of the knockout matches, his most recent appearance coming in the final group game against Valencia, by which stage Chelsea had qualified.

The only other selection decision facing Avram Grant is the one between Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou, with the first-team coach leaning towards the Ivory Coast forward in the belief that his pace will trouble Wes Brown.

Nemanja Vidic failed to train for Manchester United as a precaution against a recurring knee problem, but he is expected to play, while Louis Saha's hamstring injury could prevent the striker from taking a place on the bench.

Whoever is selected, the final may be characterised as a duel between two managers: one, Sir Alex Ferguson, who is attempting to achieve football immortality, and another, Grant, who is battling to save his job. While Ferguson exuded calm at his pre-match press conference, Grant appeared less comfortable, particularly when discussion turned to his future.

Grant has performed admirably since replacing José Mourinho in September, but he has not been offered the public support of Roman Abramovich, the club's billionaire owner. Chelsea have been unable to dampen rumours that Grant is to be replaced by Roberto Mancini, the Inter Milan coach, who is expected to state his intention to leave the Italian club when he meets Massimo Moratti, the owner, today.

Grant was evasive when asked about his future last night, particularly when it was suggested that he may be tempted to resign and stick up two fingers to Abramovich in the event of victory. “We're in the final of the Champions League and I'm not the most important person,” he said. “You need to respect everyone at the club and ask questions about the final, not about me.”

Asked whether he had spoken to Abramovich, Grant gave a sarcastic response, saying that they had spoken at 4.39pm on Sunday and would meet at 5.15pm today. “You can imagine what this means to him,” he said. “It's his dream, but it's the dream of all Chelsea supporters to be in the final.”

It is also a dream for Ferguson. Nine years after their previous appearance in the final, he is desperate for United to win the tournament for a third time, aware that, with only two European Cups to date, his club are in the shadow of Real Madrid, AC Milan and Liverpool. “We are always proud of our achievements but we will always be disappointed that we haven't won it more,” he said. “I'm sure the way I feel is the way my team feel. If we can't win it more, it affects our history.”