HE'S cherished by Chelsea fans but Mickey Thomas loves Manchester United.

It's the archetypal 'foot in both camps' scenario ahead of what should be one of the best FA Cup Finals in years.

"I love Chelsea - moving there revitalised my career," said Welsh international legend Thomas. "But United are the club for me and I just can't wait for the final. It should be a really good game and I'm really excited, looking forward to it."

There's no wonder Thomas is looking forward to it. He doesn't need a ticket to the final where he's mingling with United VIP's alongside club legends, Bryan Robson, Dwight Yorke, Denis Irwin and Andrew Cole.

He's staying in the luxury Landmark Hotel in Marylebone, dining in one of Gordon Ramsay's plush London restaurants and jokingly claims he can't afford the Wembley encounter to go into extra time because he's got a invite to a rather special Royal night-do taking place in the capital tomorrow!

Tomorrow's match is one Thomas would love to have played in.

He was a crowd-pleaser during his century of games with United and in a promotion-winning season with Chelsea a few years later.

He also knows what it's like to play in an FA Cup Final - and it turned out to be one of the best Wembley showpiece events ever - even if he did end up on the losing.

"Arsenal scored the winner while we were still celebrating our equaliser," said Thomas, looking back on that classic 3-2 defeat to Arsenal in 1979.

"I'd moved from Wrexham to United that season and to finish that season with an FA Cup Final was amazing," said Thomas, for whom United boss Dave Sexton forked out £350,000 for the Mochdre-born midfielder.

Asked if that FA Cup Final passed him by, Thomas, who was 25 at the time, replied: "I think the Arsenal players passed by me but I couldn't have done that badly as Bob Paisley made me man of the match on one side and Brian Clough made me man of the match on the other station.

"You couldn't ask for two better judges than that when it comes to football.

"Losing an FA Cup final is not a nice feeling but looking back, it was an amazing experience to play in such a thrilling game.

"The FA Cup has lost it's sparkle in recent years. The Finals have not been good but tomorrow's will attract a massive audience against two teams who will be desperate to win it.

"Mourinho knows how to win trophies and he'll have a game plan.

"United may not play like United teams of old have but I think they'll win this.

"Chelsea have had a tough season and need something to rescue their season.

"History tells you that champions struggle the year after winning the Premier League and that's been proved this season.

"They have a match-winner in Hazard but if Lukaku's fit, then I think he can win it for United.

"I think it will be 2-1 and inside 90 minutes too. I don't want it going to extra time...I've got a special party to go to!"