Chelsea defeat would be 'brutal' for Roman Abramovich claims Franck Ribery

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will not contemplate losing Saturday's Champions League final, according to Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery.

The Frenchman is looking forward to appearing in his first Champions League final after missing out due to suspension against Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan two years ago, but he knows Abramovich has been waiting even longer to get his hands on the prized piece of silverware.

"Abramovich has wanted to win the Champions League for so long," he said.

"If they lose it on Saturday then it will be brutally tough. It would ruin them in the head and really lower morale."

Negative thoughts are not passing through Ribery's mind either, though, as he looks to put a disappointing domestic season behind him with Europe's ultimate club prize.

Bayern finished runners-up in the Bundesliga and lost to the league champions Borussia Dortmund 5-2 in the final of the German Cup last Saturday, which is why another disappointment does not even bear consideration.

"We are definitely not thinking about losing," he said. "If you lose, then you are distraught.

"If we win the Champions League, then we can forget about not winning the league or the cup this year, nobody would care about that anymore.

"I have achieved a lot with Bayern. I have won the league and the cup several times and now to win the Champions League would be historic."

Simply taking the field on Saturday will be a historic moment for the 29-year-old, who was a frustrated spectator in Madrid two years ago.

That experience will come in useful in the dressing room this week with no fewer than three Bayern players - defenders David Alaba and Holger Badstuber and midfielder Luiz Gustavo - sidelined for Saturday's showcase event.

"Of course being suspended two years ago was not a good feeling," he admitted. "But I am here in two days' time and it is very, very important for us.

"I will try to help them, but it will not be easy for them to be suspended.

"It's not easy for the little lad Alaba. He's only 19 and it is very tough.

"I just try to tell him that he is still with us and we have got here with him. If we win on Saturday, then he can forget about the disappointment."

Daniel van Buyten could make a return to the starting XI for the first time in more than four months due to Bayern's shortage of central defenders.

The Belgian played just a handful of minutes in a reserve-team fixture at the weekend, yet could be on the field for the biggest club fixture of the season on Saturday.

"It is a difficult situation for Daniel, having been out for so long and then to come back for such an important game," said Bayern's former Chelsea player Arjen Robben.

"But we have faith in whoever plays and it is up to the coach to decide if he is ready."

Robben would not expect Van Buyten to be too busy if he does play, though, as he predicted that Bayern will have to take the initiative.

"This game will be nothing like against Dortmund," he said.

"We expect them to be very defensive and tight, but we have played often against such sides and we have just got to try and find a way through.

"It is going to be tight and I just hope it goes well. We have got to try and take the game to them."

PA