From Russia with love
Judging by the hotels the two teams occupy in Moscow it is very clear that Chelsea are the home team and the club feels like it owns the place.
Chelsea are at the Ritz-Carlton, a few metres from Red Square and not far from where the Champions League trophy has been on display for the last few days.
The Chelsea players, in the unlikely event they felt like it, would only have to walk a few minutes to join the queues to see the trophy.
Visiting the Ritz-Carlton I was struck by the opulence it exudes.
Along the driveway were the swanky cars that advertise the wealth that has come to some in Russia since the fall of the Communism.
On the pavement opposite the entrance was a small knot of supporters, looking and behaving much like fans who gather outside the premier of a new Hollywood release, deferential and expectant.
Inside were hotel residents having their afternoon tea and cakes while Chelsea players and officials wandered round, most of them in their track suits and Michael Ballack looking the picture of calm assurance in his slippers.
By contrast, the Manchester United team hotel, the Crown Plaza, gives off the air of a circus.
There are swarms of people, crowds galore and a few of the United party are not too happy with the facilities and some have even had to change their rooms.
This was the hotel in 2001 where the International Olympic Committee chose Beijing for the 2008 Olympics and Jacques Rogge was elected President in succession to Juan Antonio Samaranch. I myself spent a whole week in this hotel then covering the Olympic gathering.
While the Ritz-Carlton proclaims the riches of the new Russia, the Crown Plaza is more old Russia.
The reason why the two teams are in such different hotels is easy to understand.
As Uefa does with all finalists it offered each club two hotels.
United accepted one of them but Chelsea, owned by Roman Abramovich, one of the richest men in the world and one of Russia's favourite sons, had no need to and could choose its own hotel and choose the best in Moscow.
The fact that they are staying in such different surroundings should, of course, have no impact on who wins Wednesday's match but for what is it worth talking to the locals it is clear they do not see this English battle in Moscow as nothing to do with them.
Chelsea is their team with certain Chelsea players like Andrei Shevchenko firm favourites.
After 24 hours in Moscow and wandering round the city including Red Square the Englishness of this unique occasion is yet to strike home.
There were more Liverpool fans in Athens main square last year or for that matter Arsenal fans in Paris two years ago than I have seen either Chelsea or Manchester United fans so far.
It is possible most are coming in and out just for the day, while many will also have been put off by the cost of travel and the difficulty of getting into the country.
This has not stopped the Football Supporters Federation producing a brochure to help incoming fans, welcome proof that for all the tribalism of English supporters football fans can come together when they really put their minds to it.
However there is already a 'them and us' attitude developing not so much between Chelsea and Manchester United fans but between Moscow and London. Or should I say Manchester.
At Tuesday's Uefa press conference, Uefa president Michel Platini was asked questions by the British media both about the state of the pitch and the state of Moscow's infrastructure, congested roads, inadequate hotels and transport bottlenecks.
Should Uefa have brought the final to Moscow, asked the British media?
The questions reflected the complaints of fans, some of which have been made to me as well. Moscow, they feel, is just not ready for such an event.
But I was struck by the reaction this produced from Russian journalists.
They spoke very critically of Manchester staging the Uefa Cup final last week, how the organisers there had failed the Russian fans miserably, that they had had problems with the transport, could not go out of their hotels, and what is more, there was a riot.
The message was clear - if the British are to complain about Moscow the Russians already have enough ammunition about British inadequacies as revealed in Manchester.
Russia is intensely proud to stage this first Champions League final on its soil and the more the British complain the more we shall see a battle between Britain and Russia.
Organisers and fans will hope such a conflict doesn't materialise, and that the only contest remains on the much-debated pitch at the Luzhniki stadium.
I'm 
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I don't think that the UEFA Cup Final can be compared to the Champions League Final.
The UEFA Cup Final was, as we know, held at the City of Manchester stadium, a new, state-of-the-art, purpose-built football stadium with an excellent pitch. Manchester itself is a city with excellent public transport services and a good selection of accommodation. It seemed to me like Manchester did an admirable job of trying to make sure as many fans as possible could see the game, by putting up so many large screens. They also tried to provide a relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere by allowing alcohol consumption. The fans and media may have blamed these decisions for the violence, when in fact it was completely the fans' fault. If you are watching a television and it stops working, you should try and get it fixed, not throw bottles at it. If the police are patrolling, trying to keep the peace, then you co-operate with them, not assault them. The fans must accept responsibility for what happened in Manchester, it is wrong to blame the city itself.
On the other hand, the Champions League Final is being held at a multi-purpose ground, with a large running track going all around the appalling pitch which was only put in place at the last moment. The city, Moscow, is one of the most expensive in the world, with very little affordable accommodation for fans, with far fewer places from which to watch the game if you can't get in to the stadium, with a city-wide alcohol ban, enforced by police with something of a reputation for being "firm". Moscow is also just about as far away as you could be from the homes of the teams likely to qualify, from Manchester, Liverpool, London, Madrid, Barcelona and Milan, with very few regular flights going to and from those destinations. Then, of course, there was the uncertainty about visas, only recently resolved, and I personally wouldn't be surprised if there are riots in Moscow tomorrow. It was a bizarre decision to host the final there, and the Russians cannot justifiably compare their situation with the situation in Manchester.
It is also ironic that a Russian team came to Manchester for the UEFA Cup Final, and now a Mancunian team is going to Russia for the Champions League Final.
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Here is wishing players and fans of both sides a fine time in Moscow. As usual interesting observations and insights by Mihir da.
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Again we are hearing British journalists constantly questioning other countries right to host a large event due to their inadequacies while turning a blind eye to the blatant failure of a British cities attempt at hosting a major event. This country has a major problem with congested roads, inadequate hotels and transport bottlenecks just as the journalist suggest Moscow may have a problem with. The problem in this country is that the majority of people share the British press's opinions, largely due to the fact that they are unable to form their own opinion, hence the celebrity culture we live in, because the press tell us these people are important, and the ridiculous hype surrounding our national team, because we invented the game, have the best, richest league in the world and are therefore better than everybody else. The finger is constantly being pointed at other people for the failings of our national team, and the behaviour of our supporters. Unfortunately for the good people and football fans of this nation, we are going to see more finals in "far away" and "difficult to get to places" as everybody on the continent deserves a chance to be the centre of the attention. Not just the coutries that host the "best leagues." I personally hope Moscow is a success and UEFA continues its poicy of rotating the final around all of its nations.
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Last weekend I was partying in a small Istanbul side-street with thousands of Galatasaray supporters after they won the Turkish league. Best fans I've ever seen - like navy seals in orange and yellow - and certainly not the half mad terrorists we're so often lead to believe they are.
Meanwhile friends living in Manchester tell me the city was literally under siege last week, and that it was not Zenit fans vomiting, urinating and sleeping in doorways.
As a football lover living in Moscow for 2 years who received a free ticket for tonight through a local business, I believe the moral of the story is the following: the more the British complain the more we shall see a battle between Britain and Russia.
The social challenges Britain now faces are a result of fearing the Turks and belittling the Russians while Manchester falls apart. Lets not get started about Glasgow.
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If my team were lucky enough to be in a European final then I truly hope that it would be at one of the top European venues such as Milan, Pais, Madrid, Munich etc. I do not class Moscow as a top European venue nor the Turkey? This tournament should focus on the needs and dreams of the fans. I know personally of Chelsea fans that could not afford to go who have been to earlier matches in the tournament. Its all very well Scuddamore and Platini who no doubt will travel by chartered jet and stay in prebooked 5 star accomadation to think this is good for the game but its not good for the fans. What happened in Manchester reflects on Glasgow Rangers not Manchester.
Duncan
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My son and I are Chelsea fans who could not afford, let alone justify, the cost of going to Moscow, even though we have been to 25 Chelsea games this season (in fact, that is why we can't afford to go, because we are committed supporters!). I wonder who can afford it (and how). For me it is ludicrous to host the final in Moscow - not just down to the extortionate cost but also with respect to the concerns about global warming with the fans travel.
I think it would be better to nominate 1 stadium each in Switzerland and Austria - benign, stable, neutral countries geographically near the heart of Europe. These would be alternated each year - UEFA final in one, Champions League in the other. These countries are relatively central in Europe, to minimise travelling costs for everyone and could be set up with excellent, tailored eco-friendly transport links using trains in particular to minimise the environmental impact. Being used regularly in this way, there would be unlikely to be organisational problems as we saw in Athens last year or technical problems such as with the pitch this year. It would be easy to justify significant expenditure on each location, jointly funded by all the interested parties on the basis of annual recurring use and income. Of course, this is probably far too a sensible and organised approach for the mandarins in UEFA who travel in 5 star luxury and have no regard to the impact on fans and the environment. They need to wake up and smell the coffee!
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Again, our press critise a great City like Moscow, yet why havent the press critise Manchester for allowing the big screens to fail on a major occasion while there was no engineers to fix it.
Also, whats with the bickering of the pitch as well.
Might as well allowed them to keep the plastic one and let them play on it.
WHY cant footballers play on plastic, they get paid thousands a week!.
The Luzinki Stadium looks great on tv, and probably Moscow is ready.
Wait for Euro 2010, thats when we will see our press again critise Poland and the Ukraine.
However, a press didnt have a dig at Serbia for having the Eurovision!
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In reply to post 1, the Luzhniki stadium is ranked as a 5-star stadium by UEFA. It is one of the best in Europe. The fact that it is surrounded by a running track is neither here nor there. The quality of the pitch is as yet unknown, and, while it may not be good, is unlikely to rate as "appalling". There are bars all over the city where people can watch the game, and there is certainly no city-wide alcohol ban. (I live in Moscow.)
Yes, the police have a firm reputation. Amazingly enough, if you behave like a lout, get drunk, vomit on the streets, etc., they won't look too kindly on it. The Mancunian police tried a relaxed approach -and look where it got them.
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Ivorcrotty 'Lets not get started about Glasgow'.
What are you talking about? Glasgow has hosted the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Cup in the past 6 years with great success. The city created a magnificant carnival atmosphere, without incidents, that would match preparations for any major event throughout the world. Thaty is why the city was awarded the UEFA Cup 5 years later! For its success! Glasgow is widely regarded as one of the top worldwide destinations for hosting major events and is regarded massively by UEFA so yes 'let's not get started about Glasgow'!
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Mihir,
Would you like to quantify exactly what has made you believe there is a 'them and us' attitude between Moscow and Manchester?
There should be a new rule that if teams from the same nation meet in the final it should be swiched to a stadium within that nation. If Moscow has spent so long preparing for this then why was the pitch not sorted much earlier?
I don't think anybody would have complained if Milan v Juve had been swiched to Italy...
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Personally, having seen some of the behaviour from english fans at some of the more affordable european venues, I consider it no bad thing that a good portion of them are priced out this year.
Besides, it could be worse, The good folk of Hull and Bristol have got to re-mortgage the house to pay for a burger and chips at wembley on saturday.
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On the one hand, it is about time one of the Eastern European capitals got the CL final. Russia has a proud footballing heritage and they have qualified for the European Championships this year.
However, the stadium it is being held in simply doesn't fulfill the criteria for me: it has a running track, a bad pitch and from reports it's not exactly the most inviting or accessible of grounds.
Concerning Moscow as a location; Geographically it's no further than Istanbul or Athens - both final hosts in recent years with mixed fortunes. Istanbul turned out to be well-organised and by all accounts Liverpool and Milan fans were made very welcome. Athens proved less of a success.
I don't know how these decisions are made, but one would hope they're based on merit - sadly I think they have paid to host this one, just like they shelled out millions to make sure the Olympics went to Sotchi (another ridiculous destination)
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
"Geographically it's no further than Istanbul or Athens" - Which are all about as far away from England as they could be.
Granted Arsenal v Barca was in Paris (who have had the final twice this decade) - but why did Vienna host the final in 1987, 90 and 95?
What is the criteria for hosting the final, hmm??
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