Ashley Cole was included in Chelsea's starting lineup for the Champions League final against Manchester United today after shrugging off an ankle injury.
Left back Cole was injured by a challenge from team mate Claude Makelele in their final training session at the Luzhniki Stadium yesterday evening, but was fit enough to start his second Champions League final in three seasons.
There were no surprises in Chelsea's starting team on a damp, overcast night in the Russian capital with skipper John Terry included in the centre of defence.
He has recovered from a dislocated shoulder picked up on the last day of the Premier League season.
United manager Alex Ferguson opted to start with Carlos Tevez as an attacking midfielder and Owen Hargreaves in a holding role as he bids to win the European Cup for the second time.
None of the team that won the trophy under Ferguson in 1999 were today's starting lineup but Ryan Giggs, who played in that epic match against Bayern Munich in Barcelona, was named among the substitutes.
Paul Scholes, who was suspended from the 1999 final, starts in midfield and Wes Brown, an unused substitute then, was selected at right back.
There was, however, no place in the squad for South Korean Park Ji-sung.
Manchester United:1-Edwin van der Sar; 6-Wes Brown, 5-Rio Ferdinand, 15-Nemanja Vidic, 3-Patrice Evra; 7-Cristiano Ronaldo, 18-Paul Scholes, 16-Michael Carrick, 4-Owen Hargreaves; 10-Wayne Rooney, 32-Carlos Tevez
Chelsea:1-Petr Cech; 5-Michael Essien, 26-John Terry, 6-Ricardo Carvalho, 3-Ashley Cole; 10-Joe Cole, 13-Michael Ballack, 4-Claude Makelele, 8-Frank Lampard, 15-Florent Malouda; 11-Didier Drogba
Referee:Lubos Michel (Slovakia)
