Champions League final 2012: Chelsea ready to take on Bayern Munich

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Chelsea are ready to take on Bayern Munich in their bid to be crowned champions of Europe.

The Blues take on Bayern in their own stadium on Saturday night in the mouthwatering Champions League final.

Owner Roman Abramovich has long dreamed of winning the world’s best club competition and now they stand just 90 minutes away from lifting the trophy.

Chelsea touched down in Munich just after midday and were whisked to their hotel in the city centre.

They later held a press conference involving Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and manager Roberto Di Matteo, who may be taking charge of the club for the final time in his caretaker role.

The squad – including banned captain John Terry – then trained inside the Allianz Arena as they polished their preparations for the big match.

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Here we are: Chelsea’s players are put through their paces at the Allianz Arena on Friday night

Drogba denied he was an ‘actor’ after being branded one by Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes.

Heynckes claimed earlier this afternoon that Chelsea striker Drogba sometimes ‘overdoes it a bit’, adding: ‘Sometimes he’s an outstanding actor on the pitch.’

Bayern later moved to blame a mistranslation, insisting the word ‘actor’ should have been ‘performer’.

But the damage was done and asked whether he was an actor, Drogba said: ‘As far as I know, no.

‘They (Bayern) have a great manager with a lot of experience.

‘I have a lot of respect for him and that’s all I can say.’

Pressed further if he was an actor, he added: ‘Oh, no, I don’t think so. No, no, no.’

Final preparations: Chelsea’s players looked relaxed as they trained inside the stadium

Saturday’s Champions League final against Bayern could be Drogba’s final game in a Chelsea shirt, with the striker’s contract set to expire this summer.

Blues chief executive Ron Gourlay revealed after the FA Cup final that the club would attempt to sit down with Drogba at the end of the season.

Drogba confirmed he would listen to what they had to say.

‘We’ll sit down with him and we’re going to talk,’ said the 34-year-old, who rubbished rumours he had been in talks with Barcelona.

‘There are a lot of rumours about me being offered to Barcelona. It’s not true. It’s not true.’

He added: ‘No matter what happens, everybody’s talking a lot about “last game”.

‘I’m just happy because we’re again in the Champions League final.

‘Nobody expected us to be there at the beginning of the season but I think we did everything to reach the finals.’

Circle of life: Chelsea’s squad go through their stretches as part of their session

Leading the way: John Terry (left) trained with the squad despite being banned from the final

Here we go: Chelsea players (from left) David Luiz, Didier Drogba and Ramires preparing to fly out to Munich

Touching down: Didier Drogba steps off the plane with the Chelsea squad in Munich

Let’s go! Raul Meireles, Michael Essien, Florent Malouda and John Obi Mikel leave the plane

 Earlier, David Luiz used his Twitter account to keep fans updated with their journey and midfielder Ramires (who misses out on Saturday through suspension) and striker Didier Drogba were happy to pose for a snap.

A more serious-looking Frank Lampard can be seen in the background and the midfielder has urged English football to embrace a more German approach.

Leaders: John Terry and Frank Lampard walk off the plane

I recognise the hair, sir: David Luiz has his passport checked by police at the airport

This way, boss: Roberto Di Matteo was in a good mood as he stepped off the flight

England and Germany are among the fiercest rivals in the international game but Lampard is full of admiration for the way the latter goes about their business.

‘I have huge respect for them,’ the England star said. ‘I grew up being frustrated by them as an England fan. You know how tough they are in certain situations.’

Welcome: Juan Mata and Fernando Torres step off the team bus at the hotel

Blues brother: Chelsea fan Chris Morris made sure he was at the Allianz Arena in plenty of time

Passion: A Chelsea fan shows off his tattoos at a caravan park in Munich

Desperate: There is a big demand for tickets on the eve of the big match in Germany

Lampard, who played alongside former Germany talisman Michael Ballack for four years at Chelsea, added: ‘He was one of those players who you could probably take the wrong way in the beginning, but he was so determined, confident and wanted to win.

‘The German teams I have played against all seem to have that individually. That’s why they will be such a force at the Euros as well this summer.

‘They are very technically intelligent. Maybe it’s the set-up and the system they have with the young kids there.

‘We talk about England and what we need to do – the Spanish have shown it, the French have shown it and the Germans with their under-21s.’

Bayern are the flagship German club and Lampard was under no illusions about the task facing Chelsea, branding it ‘a huge challenge’.

He added: ‘They have great players up front – I’ve watched them a few times.

‘(Mario) Gomez’s goal record is amazing and his all-round game and his finishing is fantastic. And the wingers we all know about anyway.

‘In (Toni) Kroos and (Bastian) Schweinsteiger, they have two fantastic midfield players.

‘I can’t speak highly enough of them actually. Kroos has come on and really impressed me. And then (Thomas) Muller played behind the front man.

‘It’s going to be a battleground because they are very strong in there.’

Bayern have been weakened by three suspensions for Saturday’s clash but Chelsea have been affected by four, including to centre-backs John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic.

But Lampard was confident the fit-again Gary Cahill and David Luiz would fill the void.

He said: ‘John is obviously the captain and a top defender but we’re fortunate that in Gary and David looking like they are going to be fit, we have good cover.

‘A lot of teams losing their centre-halves would not be so confident but I’m pretty confident in them.

‘And then Ashley Cole – say no more, you know what you get from him. And whoever we play at right-back, Jose Bosingwa or Paulo Ferreira.

‘We have to be on our game to stop them but I have confidence in the players to do it.’ 

All ready: The Allianz Arena in Munich hosts the Champions League final on Saturday night

All over: Oracle dachshund Sissi chooses the Bayern bowl for food at a stunt in a Munich shopping centre – predicting defeat for Chelsea

Credit: Daily Mail

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