West Ham manager Sam Allardyce insists Saturday's Championship play-off final is a bigger game than the UEFA Champions League final.
Champions League is about glory but this is people's lives, says West Ham boss
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce insists Saturday's Championship play-off final is a bigger game than the UEFA Champions League final.
Allardyce's Hammers will battle for promotion to the Premier League with Blackpool, with an estimated £90million at stake for the winners.
Later in the evening Chelsea face Bayern Munich to decide who will be crowned kings of Europe, but the 57-year-old claims the real main event takes place at 3pm at Wembley.
"Saturday afternoon is bigger," he said.
"The Champions League final is a glory game, this is about your livelihood and your status. The Champions League is a big tournament but this one is about changing people's lives."
Double
Striker Carlton Cole is hoping it will be a double celebration in London with him firing West Ham back to the top flight before watching his former side triumph in Munich.
Cole had a five year spell at Stamford Bridge before moving to Upton Park and remains in contact with his old team-mates.
"We go first and have to win the game," said Cole.
"And if we win the game that is one box ticked. I've got friends at Chelsea and if Chelsea win that is another box ticked - and a very good weekend for me.
"I still talk to Ashley Cole and we're close. Daniel Sturridge always phones up and is looking for our results - I don't know why!
"Will I watch it? It will depend on how I feel at the time. I'll be spurring them on, hopefully they will do well and bring the cup back to England."
Skipper Kevin Nolan becomes the first man to lead West Ham out at Wembley since Billy Bonds in 1981, but the former Bolton and Newcastle midfielder insists it is just another game.
"We've got to treat it as a normal game, we know the importance of it but we've got to do the business like we have done for most of the season," he said.
"It's about two teams and 90 minutes. We know Blackpool are a good side, we are not going to underestimate them.
"We need one massive push from us all to achieve what I came here in the summer to achieve, to get this fantastic club back in the Premier League."
