Mad Mak: Cole injury doubt after ‘red card’ tackle by team-mate in training

Chelsea's Ashley Cole is a major doubt for tonight's Champions League Final with Manchester United after he was injured by a double-footed challenge from team-mate Claude Makelele in training last night.

With United preparing to throw Carlos Tevez into a three-man strikeforce with Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, Chelsea left-back Cole was scythed down by Makelele 10 minutes into a practice match at the Luzhniki Stadium, the venue for tonight's final.

The challenge would have earned a red card in a proper match.

Cole, 27, received intensive treatment on his right ankle and briefly regained his feet before attempting some gentle jogging.

He hobbled off down the players' tunnel, however, while his team-mates continued without him.

His absence would be a crushing blow for Chelsea's chances as he is the defender who has handled United dangerman Ronaldo the best.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will not inform his players of the team until lunchtime today but sources close to Tevez last night suggested that the Argentina striker was expecting to play, meaning either Ji-sung Park or Owen Hargreaves would be on the bench.

Defender Nemanja Vidic and centre forward Louis Saha both sat out training but are fit. While Ferguson wants to win the first all-English Champions League Final to join the pantheon of managers who have lifted the famous trophy more than once, Chelsea boss Avram Grant needs a victory to save his job.

But he came out fighting when he told Chelsea they have him to thank for not being on holiday.

Cole receives treatment at the side of the pitch

Grant said: 'Look we're here today, 11 days after the league ended. If it's a normal season for Chelsea, we'd be on vacation.

'We're here because we came to the most important game for teams all over the world, the final of the Champions League.'

While Grant continues to sweat over his future, he deflected questions about whether he had had a defining meeting with owner Roman Abramovich.

But he did confess that he would break his strict no-alcohol rule and have a drink with the Russian should Chelsea win.

'You can imagine what this means to him,' said Grant. 'He came from Moscow and wanted always to be in the final. It's his dream. I'm not a drinker, but if we win, in this case, I will drink more than one glass of vodka.'

As Grant planned a strategy for winning Chelsea's first Champions League, Ferguson was trying to repeat his 1999 triumph. Ferguson hopes that his players will be inspired by the recent 50th anniversary of the Munich disaster.

Four survivors will be here tonight and he said: 'The pressure is on us to do well in this final but it's far better to have the history with us.

'We're proud to follow in their footsteps. The courage of Sir Matt Busby was amazing.

We won't let them down.

'Winning the Champions League has to be the best achievement of my career and now I want to do it again and I'm confident that we can win.'

United won the trophy on Busby's birthday in 1999 and clinched the league title last weekend 25 years to the day that Ferguson won his first European trophy with Aberdeen, leaving Sir Alex feeling fate is on United's side.

'Fate does play its part,' he said. 'It's a strange thing to discuss because you wouldn't think such a thing was possible. But there have been so many coincidences. 'When we won the league at Wigan and I won the Cup Winners' Cup, it chucked it down both times. Then there's Munich. The signs are there

' Ryan Giggs will be on the bench but will break Sir Bobby Charlton's United appearance record if he plays.

Charlton said: 'I couldn't wish for anyone better to take my mark.'

Picture speaks a thousand words: Grant fires a look at Claude Makele as Ashley Cole leaves the pitch