Avram Grant has finally won the right to be taken seriously. Whatever happens from today until the final match of his career, whether that is at Chelsea or elsewhere, he can look back at the events of the last eight days and show that he stepped up to the plate. In beating Manchester United in the Premier League and defeating Liverpool in the semi-final of the European Cup he has won the right to be included in the old adage that big managers win big matches.
Chelsea now have three games left of their season. They may lose them all and, even if they did, which would rightly heap criticism upon Grant’s shoulders, it surely wouldn’t wipe out the sense of achievement, relief and vindication that was so clearly etched upon his face at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening. Reaching a European Cup Final has been done by poor managers before but none have faced the pressure that Grant has been under.
I still believe he’s neither a great coach nor a great manager and, more importantly, the information I receive from those close to the decision-makers at Chelsea – those who actually do speak to Roman Abramovich that is – continues to show that they don’t believe Grant is either. It’s unlikely that they will entrust him with the task of taking the club forward next season although if he wins a trophy that becomes an exceedingly brutal decision.
But then Grant got his job in brutal circumstances and, as events have shown elsewhere at Manchester City, no-one should be surprised at the behaviour of billionaire owners. It’s their club, their money and they didn’t get where they are by resting on sentiment or even making logical decisions. These are guys who work on gut instinct and, as I am repeatedly told, Abramovich doesn’t get things wrong.
Grant still has an unfortunate demeanour. He’ll never be an orator or a media darling but, hopefully for his sake, the images of him on Wednesday will now replace those of him sulking in post-match interviews or scratching his head as he stood on the turf at the Carling Cup Final. They still don’t sing his name at the Bridge but he has gradually earned respect and anyone who does that deserves praise.
So you still attack the guy... yes he is not JM and he is not sexy... but if you lived in Israel you would know that few children of Holocaust survivors are... Many times they have to carry the burden for their parents all their lives... in this respect Grant is a Holocaust survivor too... So yes, he may have a sad look in his eyes, and maybe now you understand why... but if you judge him by his achievements so far he is a good manager... You know, I know this is an article in the Independent, but it wouldn't kill you to give an Israeli credit for once... Talking about rumors that go behind his back is no way to give credit or respect...
Posted by: Erez | 01 May 2008 at 04:01 PM
Stop getting so jingoistic Erez, there is no talk about his Holocaust backgrounds, why should we even talk about it. The operative word is results and management acumen, which Avram has had a rollercoaster with, nobody is mentioned concentration camps...so end this bullcrap, let him earn his respect through sexy football+consistency+trophies, if he gets those, i will willing lick his you know what
Posted by: Subhash | 01 May 2008 at 06:00 PM
It is about time that you appreciate a different style of managers.
He is special for letting his players to express themselves on the field.
He is special for putting the team before his ego
And he is special for getting Chelsea to this stage and even more.
He is special, maybe not THE SPECIAL, but he is definitely THE ONE. Go Chelsea Go Avram.
Posted by: Eli | 01 May 2008 at 08:27 PM
What an idiot the writer of this article is.he proved he knows nothing about football, let alone Chelsea.
He says he doesn't think Grant is a good coach, even after the fact that he is the ONLY one coach in Chelsea's HISTORY that has taken the team to the european final.
Who else has if I'm mistaken? oh pray tell...
was he a good coach?!!!
We may not like the man personally but to critize him as a coach displays utter ineptitude, which is something quite abundant these days among football "journalists"
Posted by: Joe | 01 May 2008 at 09:54 PM
This is of course the finest hour of chelsea's history but the credit is for the players. Avram grant is there only to tag along.
Mourinho would have done better at this point. With mourinho
at the helm now Chelsea is already above MU in EPL standing.
There is no other football manager in the world who is more brilliant, more charismatic and glamorous other than Mourinho.
Posted by: mohd fadzel nor | 02 May 2008 at 12:57 AM
Mohd Fedzel Nor!
I strongly recommend you to ask JM out.Drink few drinks together, tell each other jokes,take a long walk on the beach, and maybe you'll even make it to sunset . Get a room together. Make sure to have a TV set in this room, as a fore play you can watch together some of his greatest game (Im sure that you have them all). You can tell him how special he is, and he will give you foot massage in return. People will say: "They look good together".
Posted by: David | 02 May 2008 at 03:22 AM
"Mourinho would have done better at this point. With mourinho at the helm now Chelsea is already above MU in EPL standing" - FALSE
When he parted ways with Chelsea were they top??? Nooooo. He left on the back of a string of bad results and people were talking of them getting knocked out ASAP. People are saying that with the players he has anyone could manage them...hypocritical! When Mourinho was winning they were singing his praises saying if he left the club would collapse; but did they??? NO. Give the man some respect.
Posted by: Jemal K | 02 May 2008 at 07:19 PM
Jason Burt is neither a good football journalist or a good football analyst. Hence his relegation to a blog.
And as for the as called "information" he receives from "those close to the decision-makers at Chelsea" this is a laughable over statement. The actual dscision makers at have never heard of Mr Burt, according to my source close to the decision makers at Chelsea.
Posted by: Mike Basset | 02 May 2008 at 11:44 PM
Football and winning and life are hard to figure out. No matter how smart you are, you never truly know how things are going to work out. For what it's worth this is what I think of the Chelsea situation: I think that Avram Grant is actually a competant football man but that he is not fully in control of the Chelsea team. Chelsea is a team which was built by Jose Mourinho but instead of being a disciplined team of super-talented individuals with a win at all costs mentality, they are now a RENEGADE team of super-talented individuals with a win at all costs mentality. It could be a powerful situation: they have the benefit of Mourinho's spirit but they are now free to impose their great power on the opposition and see where the chips might fall. It's usually disciplined teams that win trophies but we are down to a one-off in Moscow and as we all know anything can happen in one game. And if they win, should we find a way to celebrate Grant? No. We should celebrate the winning spirit of Mourinho and the rebel spirit of the players. It is the great players of Chelsea that run that team now and for a moment in time they have the opportunity to be glorious champions...
Posted by: Beautifulgamer | 06 May 2008 at 12:51 PM
I think your all being a little harsh. This article isn't without merit. Grant has never has my full respect nor my full condemnation, ive preferred to let his results do the talking, and they have. You can't argue with a European Cup final and being level on points with the leaders with 1 game to go, especially after we were written off by October. If anything the treatment Grant has received at the hands of the media, the pundits and fans demonstrates just how fickle football really is. He's done a wonderful job under immense pressure, and some people need to sit up and realise we'd be singing his name to the high heavens if this was any time before Abramovich or even Mourinho. Justice says he keeps his job for next season, regardless of whether or not we win anything.
Posted by: Matt Harding's BAWA | 06 May 2008 at 06:35 PM
I dont think he has changed muched since he took over Mourinho. They have finished runners up but throughout the season they didnt seem that convincing. Their goal tally is rubbish compared to Mourinho's record. Yes, they have made it to the Champions League final and even if they win it, I would still say that it is Mourinho's team that won it and not Avram Grants team. If Grant consistently challenges like he did this season, I would then give him some credit but for me he is just following on from what Mourinho has already built for him and he hasn't proved anything yet.
Posted by: Manchester United Credit Card | 13 May 2008 at 01:32 AM