Lahm backs Ribery to make the difference

The German club were close to succeeding two years ago when they were beaten by Inter Milan in the Madrid final, but unlike on that night when Ribery was suspended, the Frenchman will be available to face Chelsea tonight. That, according to Lahm, is the biggest difference between then and now.

"He is an excellent footballer and he is a player who can decide games, we all know that," said Lahm.

"He missed out two years ago so will be particularly motivated.

"He has already proven many times how important he is to us.

"We all have the hunger to win this cup and it will be a difficult task and Franck will make his contribution tomorrow for us to win."

Those words were echoed by Bayern's vice-captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, who has further questioned the suspension ruling which deprives his side of Luiz Gustavo, Holger Badstuber and David Alaba for tonight's final while Chelsea have to make do without Branislav Ivanovic, Raul Meireles and Ramires, who also picked up second yellow cards in the semi-final.

"I think it can be decisive that Ribery, who was suspended back then, will be back," said the 27-year-old.

Suspended

"For me personally, he is an excellent player who can make the difference.

"I personally think it would have been better if all the players, both for Chelsea and for us, were on board.

"Sadly the rules are such that these players are suspended in the final.

"I think it is not optimal, but both teams have the same number of suspended players so it is the same for both sides."

For Lahm, being involved in a Champions League final just a stone's throw from where he took his first footballing steps as a six-year-old with FT Gern is further motivation.

"I was born in Munich, I grew up in Munich, Bayern is my home-town team and I joined the club as an 11-year-old, so I am really at home here," he said.

"It is being called the final at home, and for me it really is at home."