• Champions League

Cahill and Luiz declare they will be fit for Bayern clash

ESPN staff
May 15, 2012
David Luiz and Gary Cahill expect to play for Chelsea in the Champions League final © PA Photos
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Chelsea defender Gary Cahill has insisted he will be fit for Saturday's Champions League final against Bayern Munich, and fellow centre-back David Luiz also expects to be available.

Cahill hobbled off early in the semi-final win over Barcelona at Camp Nou and was considered to be a serious doubt for the Allianz Arena. He trained on Tuesday, along with Luiz, and now both hope to be on the plane to Germany.

It had been suggested Roberto Di Matteo may be forced to call on Chelsea's youth players if Cahill, Luiz and Florent Malouda failed to shake off their respective injuries.

Di Matteo could be without as many as seven first-team members. Four individuals - captain John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Ramires and Raul Meireles - are suspended for the final in Munich, while Cahill, Luiz and Malouda are all injured.

England defender Cahill said: "I'm just happy that it's healed quickly. We've worked really hard, all day, afternoons, and I'm fortunate enough to be back. Hopefully, I'll be fit, I will be fit, and hopefully I'll be out there if selected.

"First full session with the boys today after my injury, so nice to get back out there and get running around and kicking a ball about. There's some work to be done in two or three days now leading up to the game for me to get back into it.

"And if I need to do a little bit of other training, I'll do that. But, touch wood, there's no reaction from today and I felt fine out there.

"I think it's the biggest game for probably many of the boys. We're under no illusions how big the game is. It's going to be a good night and, hopefully, it goes to plan."

Luiz, who has not played for exactly a month, said: "I'm so happy to return to training and now I can help Chelsea in this final. I've missed games but I don't think at this stage of the season you're going to lose too much fitness. It's not like I've been out for months, so it shouldn't matter too much.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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