Security fears over all-English final

(CNN) -- Security worries and concerns over the state of the pitch are dominating the build-up to Wednesday's all-English Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea in Moscow.

English fans have already started arriving in the Russian capital with an estimated 42,000 expected to make the trip.

It is the first time two English clubs have reached the final of European football's premier competition. But that has raised fears that English fans' reputation as troublemakers could lead to violence and confrontations with heavy-handed Russian riot police.

Those concerns have been heightened by events following last week's UEFA Cup final in Manchester where hundreds of fans of Scottish side Rangers clashed with police in scenes described by a senior officer as "sickening."

The late kickoff time in Moscow -- 10.45 p.m. local time -- has also fueled fears that some English fans will have time to indulge in their customary heavy drinking before the match. To counter that, Moscow has imposed tight restrictions on the sale of alcohol.

Fans arriving at Moscow's airports were being handed pamphlets containing advice on how to behave, CNN's Don Riddell said. Eighteen British police officers are also working with Moscow police to identify potential troublemakers while restrictions on known hooligans are in place to prevent them leaving the UK.

Up to 6,000 security forces will be deployed across Moscow on Wednesday. Around 700 buses will be used to take fans straight from the city's airport to the Luzhniki Stadium to limit the risk of trouble in the city center. Rival fans will also be steered into separate areas in the buildup to kickoff.

"Supporters are being urged to enjoy themselves but to respect the local customs," Riddell said. Watch how Moscow is preparing to deal with English football fans »

Russia has relaxed its usually strict entry criteria for foreign visitors, waivering visa requirements for ticketholders flying in and out of the country on the day of the match.

Meanwhile, there were concerns Tuesday about the state of the pitch which was ripped up and re-laid just two weeks ago. The grass surface has been put down over an artificial pitch underneath but the English groundsman in charge of preparing it for the final said the turf had not had time to bed in.

"It is less good than the average Premier League pitch, it's true," Tony Frost said. "But it is an awful lot better than the plastic pitch underneath, which was like playing on concrete."

United go into Wednesday's match as English champions, having edged Chelsea by just two points to win the Premier League title last month. Inspired by their brilliant Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo, United have a reputation as one of Europe's most entertaining sides.

Manager Alex Ferguson, one of the most successful coaches of the modern era, is hoping to emulate his achievement in 1999 when United won the European Cup and the English league title in the same season. United also won the European Cup in 1968.

For United, there is also the added poignancy that reaching the final coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Munich air crash in which 23 people including eight team members died on their way home from a European Cup match in Belgrade.

Chelsea, who have been United's main challenger in England since Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought the London club in 2003, have never reached the Champions League final before.

But manager Avram Grant, who replaced Jose Mourinho earlier in the season, will name his side from a strong roster of experienced internationals that includes German midfielder Michael Ballack, Ivorian forward Didier Drogba and Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Both squads have been distracted from their preparations for the game by media speculation over the future of key players. United Chief Executive David Gill dismissed speculation Tuesday linking Ronaldo with a $120 million move to Real Madrid.

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