Family ties are one reason why Harry Redknapp will be cheering for Chelsea tonight - although the Portsmouth manager admits it was a close call.

Redknapp has divided loyalties since Chelsea's Frank Lampard and Joe Cole plus Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick were all players he signed while manager at West Ham.

"I'd like Chelsea to win," said Redknapp, who knows just what it's like to win a trophy following his team's FA Cup Final success over Cardiff on Saturday.

Chelsea midfielder Lampard is Redknapp's nephew while manager Avram Grant was director of football at Fratton Park before moving to Stamford Bridge.

"It's going to be close but I'd like to see Frank win it," said Redknapp.

"It would be good to see Avram Grant answer a few of his critics and I would be pleased as punch for Joe Cole as well."

As well as Lampard and Cole, Ferdinand and Carrick also began their playing careers at West Ham under Redknapp.

"It's amazing how well they've all done. I can remember signing all of them as if it was yesterday."

And as the big kick-off approached today, Redknapp gave Standard Sport his assessment of the quartet.

JOE COLE
"I can remember seeing Joe for the first time. He was 11 years old and he was the best I'd ever seen. I'd never seen anyone with the talent that Joe possessed.

"We played Norwich Under-13s in ankle-deep mud and this little kid turns up and starts skipping past three and four players every time he touches the ball.

"He did just amazing things with the ball then and look what he's done since. He's a great lad and I'm delighted for him. To be playing on the biggest stage, in a Champions League Final, is just brilliant."

MICHAEL CARRICK
"We brought him down to West Ham from the north east at an early age. The clubs up there didn't want him.

"He grew beyond his strength in those early days. He suddenly went from 5ft 6ins to 6ft 1in.

"He was like a beanpole, no strength, growing pains, problems with his knees. He knew what he wanted to do but couldn't get around the pitch to do it.

"It was a case of waiting for him to develop and fill out. Eventually he did and now he looks some player, a super passer of a ball."

RIO FERDINAND
"One of the best in the world now and I don't want to appear wise after the event but I said that when he was 16, He was a Rolls-Royce then and he still is.

"We used to do one-on-one in training sometimes at West Ham and I remember Eyal Berkovic saying 'whoever gets Rio has got no chance because he'll take the ball off you every time, he's so quick. I've never seen anyone beat him yet.'

"Paolo Di Canio would try and sell him eight dummies, go this way, that way as only Paolo could do but in the end Rio would just accelerate and take the ball off him like candy off a baby."

FRANK LAMPARD
"I've never seen anyone in my life so dedicated to becoming a great player. He would train every afternoon when everyone else had gone home. He would be shooting, doing sprints, dribbling, practising, practising, practising.

"I've never seen a more dedicated, more focused player who deserved to make it to the top than Frank Lampard and I will be delighted for him if Chelsea win tonight."