Vidic tempts fate with Drogba diving claims

NEWS ROUND-UP:DESPITE THE experience of Rafael Benitez, who riled the striker with similar claims before the second semi-final leg, then saw him score two goals as Liverpool went out, Nemanja Vidic has suggested ahead of Wednesday's Champions League final in Moscow that diving is a key part of the Chelsea striker Didier Drogba's armoury.

"Sometimes he goes in very strong and sometimes he pretends he is weak," said the Manchester United defender whose tussle with the Ivorian is likely to be one of the game's key contests.

"He plays with your mind and tries to make the defender think about the next tackle. He can pretend he fell down to win a penalty, but referees know that. The Champions League final is a big game and I'm sure the ref will know his job."

Benitez said much the same thing as the two sides prepared for their recent semi-final encounter at Stamford Bridge where Drogba turned in an inspired performance. Afterwards the Spaniard repeatedly had to deny having inspired the African with this comments, insisting the occasion alone had provided all of the motivation required.

Drogba, however, had told French journalists in advance of the game that he would show Benitez what he could do and he ran almost 30 yards to celebrate scoring the game's first goal directly in front of the Liverpool bench.

It subsequently emerged that he had pinned a photo of the manager on the wall at his space in the dressingroom.

Perhaps wary of walking himself into a similar fate, Vidic was careful to praise Drogba's ability and largely absolved the striker of blame for their clash in the recent league game between the clubs when Vidic had to be replaced after suffering concussion.

"He's a great player and he's a top scorer. It's a hard job to stop him." said the Serb.

"I don't protect myself. I leave myself too open for players to kick me or hurt me.

"I'm not saying they want to - it just happens - but maybe I need to work on my protection."

Vidic is virtually certain to come up against Drogba again on Wednesday night after Avram Grant confirmed over the weekend that he expected the striker, John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho all to be fit to play in the final.

Drogba had previously suggested that he would be okay, telling journalists that "nobody wants to miss such a massive game".

Uefa play down prospect of crowd trouble

AS THE first of the English fans started to trickle into Moscow ahead of the flood that is expected tomorrow, Uefa's Scottish general secretary expressed confidence that Wednesday's game will pass off without serious incident.

Police chiefs here were quick to suggest that they would step up security in the wake of the city centre rioting that coincided with last week's Uefa Cup decider in Manchester, sparking fears that handing of the situation in the Russian capital would be heavy handed.

David Taylor, though, insists he has been reassured by Uefa's dealing with those in charge of the policing operation and he believes the game will be free of trouble.

"We are never complacent but certainly we are confident there will not be the same vast numbers (of fans without match tickets) that there were in Manchester," he said.

"We also believe the style of crowd management with the Russian authorities and the police will be somewhat different to the English police management.

"We've had lots and lots of meetings with the (Russian) security authorities and they have been very helpful, even allowing fans to use Red Square itself as the venue for their Champions League festival area. It shows they are going to be very welcoming but I'm sure also there will be some very tough policing if there is any sign of disorder."

- Emmet Malone