Nicolas Anelka, veteran of a Champions League Final eight years ago, believes our big players can be the difference against Manchester United on Wednesday.

The Frenchman signed for the Blues in January and was immediately impressed with what he saw in his team-mates, and he is adamant there is enough character and quality to rise to the challenge in Moscow.

Speaking before the squad flies out to Russia today, Anelka was also hopeful that the game lives up to expectations, and that familiarity between the two sides will not prevent an entertaining contest.

'It is special and we know very well Man United. I hope it will be a very open game, still very hard but good to watch.

'It is going to be a different game. We play Man United and we know them and they know us and it is going to be very hard but I think we can do it because we have big players who are used to this type of game.

'Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in the world and when you look at the names of the players you can see that,' the striker added.

'From what I could see from outside, it was a big club and now that I am here inside I can see that.

'We have here players who have been in finals every year but they have not been in the Champions League Final before so it is going to be very hard but hopefully we will come back with the title.'

Having missed out on Premier League silverware to the Old Trafford club, Anelka insisted that it was not revenge spurring the side on, but instead what has become the season requirement of a trophy at Stamford Bridge.

'We don't think like that, because Man United deserved to win the league,' he admitted, adding: 'If you look at the quality of the squad, of course we have to win a trophy. That is why we are here.

'You can look at the team and see one that tries to do our best on the pitch and we try to win games. Now we are in the Final we still have to win one more game.'

You can purchase your Moscow merchandise now from the Online Megastore, with a range of products available including Wednesday's match programme.