Joe Cole has warned Manchester United to prepare themselves for a Chelsea side which is at its best when the odds are stacked against them.

Jose Mourinho's side will have their backs to the wall against United in the FA Cup final because of a crippling injury list that has robbed them of striker Andriy Shevchenko, midfielder Michael Ballack and defender Ricardo Carvalho.

They are also waiting for fitness updates on left-back Ashley Cole, winger Arjen Robben and midfielder Mikel John Obi.

All three have an outside chance of being fit to face United, but Cole insists that Chelsea perform better against all the odds and that United will have no easy ride.

Cole declared: ''I think we are at our best with our backs to the wall. We've had a lot to contend with this year but we're not complaining.

''We've had our injury problems this year but we want to put that aside and get on with the game. It's a case of 11 players being chosen who are the 11 players the gaffer thinks can do the job. We have to put all our injuries and problems to one side and win our second trophy of the season which would be a massive achievement.

''Nobody will be crying any tears for us because of the big squad and the quality players we've got. We'll just approach it like any other big game. Hopefully the gods will be on our side and we'll get the rub of the green.

''People didn't expect me to be back so any game is a bonus. Every day when I've been injured it's always been focusing on one of the finals.

"I knew I couldn't come back and influence the Premier League because it was too Late, so I knew it was either the Champions League or the FA Cup.

''It all boils down to winning this trophy. Everything I have focused on since late November when I had my injury is for the FA Cup. I want to win it and have something to take from the season. It's huge.

''The manager, myself and a lot of the boys haven't won it before, it's a huge one.

''It doesn't bear any resemblance to the title race next season. You look at some teams who are cup teams and some who are championship teams.

"We will be competing for the title next year regardless of what happens on Saturday."