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THAT'S MY FINAL ANSWER

With just five days until the match football fans the world over will make sure to watch, chelseafc.com will be asking the Chelsea squad for outstanding memories from viewing Champions League Finals past. Between now and the day of the game, their rec

/noticias.info/ Starting appropriately with the man in the Number 1 shirt, Petr Cech's mind returns to the mid-1990s.

'I remember most when I was younger that it was always AC Milan or Juventus, these big Italian sides in the finals with Ajax. I remember with Ajax playing AC Milan and the big penalty shoot-outs. I always wanted Ajax to win, because for me they played brilliant football and this was something more than losing the Final.

'Since then I have watched every Final because it is always interesting and as a kid, I loved football.

'It is good to see the biggest games and best players, it was a great occasion for me. At the time in the Czech Republic you didn't have every game live on television and when you could see the Champions League Final and semi-final it was a great occasion.
'There were always great games. I always remember for example when Leverkusen played Real Madrid in Glasgow when it was looking like they might do it, and the goalkeeper of Madrid got injured and Casillas went in at 18-years-old and he made great saves. In the end Zidane scored a great goal.

'I remember the next year when Man United played Real Madrid and it was 4-3 at Old Trafford and Madrid went through, and this was a great game as well. You have the great players who were at that time the two best teams possibly in the world and it was a joy to watch.'

Cech is not the only Chelsea player appreciative of the night Zidane's special volley secured a 2-1 win for Real at Hampden. The goal naturally made waves in France, as confirmed by Florent Malouda.

'When I was in the Academy we would always watch the games together with pizza and coca-cola. You see it and hear the music, you think about it a lot. I remember the final in Glasgow when Zidane scored the volley against Bayer Leverkusen.'

Nicolas Anelka too appreciated a national hero at his best but also recalls a less-celebrated goal.

'I didn't watch too much the Finals growing up. Zidane's volley stands out for me but more than that, Juventus against Dortmund in 1997.

'Everybody thought Juventus were going to win, but Dortmund did in the end. It was 3-1 and Lars Ricken scored a really good chip just after coming on as sub. It shows that in the final you never know, it is only one game. You can be favourite but it doesn't mean anything, everything is possible.'

With almost a decade less of watching the competition than Anelka, John Mikel Obi lets us into a little secret.

'I hope my main memory will be winning the game in Moscow, but the one that stands out is watching Arsenal in 2006. To tell you the truth, I used to support Arsenal a bit so the worst moment was when they lost to Barcelona and Belletti scored!'


To be kitted out for Chelsea's night of making Champions League Final memories, buy Road to Moscow merchandise from the Megastore at Stamford Bridge or online. notas_de_prensa_archivo