Mateja Kezman has lifted the lid on life at Chelsea under Avram Grant.
Grant has lost control, according to former player
Mateja Kezman believes Fenerbahce have a genuine chance of reaching the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, as Chelsea have gone backwards under Avram Grant.
Fenerbahce host Chelsea in Wednesday night's quarter-final clash in Istanbul, with former Chelsea striker Kezman in an optimistic frame of mind as he plots the Blues' downfall.
Kezman was one of Jose Mourinho's first signings at Stamford Bridge and while the Portuguese also sold the player after a less than awe-inspiring spell in West London, he retains the admiration of his former charge.
The same cannot be said of current Blues incumbent Avram Grant, who Kezman intimates is not in full control of the squad he inherited.
Kezman feels a manager of Mourinho's calibre stands head and shoulders above the likes of Grant; claiming spats on the training ground are not uncommon.
No replacement
"Mourinho is a great manager and, along with Guus Hiddink, the best I have ever worked with. When I said I felt I needed to move on, he understood," Kezman told the
Daily Mail.
"He did not stand in my way. He appreciated how difficult I found being on the bench after being a big star at PSV and how much I wanted to play regularly.
"I understand that Mourinho had problems with the owner. But the manager that they have now does not have Mourinho's qualities. When Mourinho was there, Chelsea was like a machine. Everything ran like clockwork.
"Now, talking to old friends at the club, I understand it's not so good. There are rows on the training pitch, the kind of problems that never would have happened when Mourinho was in charge. Chelsea are still a strong team. Just look at their position in the league. But it is a good time to play them."
