Avram: Focused and Flying

Fri, 2nd May 2008
Avram Grant believes that after two important wins it is full steam ahead for his side, and is unconcerned by comments about the title race from other managers.

Speaking at the end of what has been a huge week for him, Grant reacted to suggestions by West Ham manager Alan Curbishley that he would like to see Manchester United win the Premier League title.

Grant, who became the first Chelsea manager to lead the team to a Champions League final on Wednesday, said: 'I am not doubting the integrity of West Ham and I don't have a reason to doubt the integrity of Alan Curbishley but I think it is wrong to say things like this because he is involved in the game against United.

'West Ham won against them the last three or four times, I don't know, so I don't think it's a good idea to say this. I cannot be angry, I don't know what to say - I think it's wrong, but I don't have any reason to doubt the integrity of him or his club.'

United play West Ham at Old Trafford tomorrow, where victory would lift them three points ahead of us before our visit to Newcastle on Monday.

Grant believes after crucial victories against United and Liverpool in the past week, that the momentum is with Chelsea going into the final week of the league season.

'It was a big week, to play against these teams when you are still fighting for major trophies. For me it was great games, and we won, the games were very exciting and we want to continue this process.

'We developed our game each month, sometimes we have bad games but I think we have more good games. This week we showed in the true moment against two great clubs and two great managers with very good players, we won and we played very good.'

Speaking regarding the past week, which also saw him travel to Auschwitz on Thursday, Grant believes that there is still more to come from the Blues.

'I always like to think the best week didn't come yet. It was an exciting week, all the emotion around this, April 30 is a historical day for Chelsea now, every fan will remember this day when we came to the Champions League final for the first time and I think it is a big, big step for the club,' he said.

Wednesday night also saw a rare show of emotion from the normally calm Grant, as he celebrated the victory by dropping to his knees. He insists we should not be too surprised.

'I am very emotional, sometimes in the game you cannot show it, you need to concentrate,' he reasoned.

'The most important thing is to think what you need to do or don't need to do, when you concentrate it's not so easy to show emotion, I showed it at the end of the game.'

There was time also to discuss recent speculation in the media, with Didier Drogba again linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge. He reiterated previous messages that the Ivorian is producing on the pitch at Chelsea, and that is all that matters,

'There are a lot of rumours about everybody. Didier can play only in one club and he has been linked to other clubs,' Grant said. 'He is in the club, and gives everything. The answers have to be on the pitch, he gave everything in the semi-final, that's what is important.'

Shaun Wright-Phillips' future was also discussed, and Grant was again dismissive of any suggestions of unhappiness.

'I think if Shaun was not happy, he can come and tell me. He didn't tell me that. Because we are in a historical moment, we say thanks to all these players, like Shaun who was our best player in December and January, and the two goalkeepers Hilario and Cudicini, and the other players who played when our top players were injured.

'We played without them and it was very good, this is the time to respect everybody in the club, my assistants, medical department, and fitness coach.'

Finally, Grant addressed the regular question of his own future, and of his discourse with Roman Abramovich.

He said: 'It is a private matter, we are in good contact, and I have a feeling you know he is very happy.

'My daughter is 12-years-old, she asks me why the media always asks me these questions. I say "they love me, they are concerned about me, if I am not here they have a problem." The relationship is good and everything will be okay. Do I look worried? No.'