By Chris Burton Last updated: 13th May 2008
Grant: Excited
Avram Grant expects John Terry and Didier Drogba to be fit in time for the UEFA Champions League final.
The pair picked up injuries in Chelsea's final Premier League game of the season against Bolton on Sunday and were considered doubtful for the European showdown.
The Blues' boss admits that he is yet to put the pair through their paces on the training ground, but is confident that the influential duo will make the trip to Moscow.
"We have not had training today (Tuesday) or yesterday so we have to wait until training tomorrow to see how they are," Grant told Sky Sports News.
"John Terry I think will be okay, Didier Drogba I don't know how serious that is but I think he will do everything possible to play in this game."
Grant also revealed his pride at becoming the first Chelsea manager to lead the club to the final of Europe's premier club competition.
"Personally it is very exciting," he said.
"But it is more exciting because it is the first time my club have been in the Champions League final.
"They have tried and never come to the final,and now we are part of the history of a club who want to be a big club, and big clubs reach Champions League finals, so it's very exciting."
The Israeli is confident that the Blues can prevent United from snatching another trophy from under their noses, after seeing the Red Devils pip them to the league title on a thrilling final day.
"Of course we can beat them," he said.
"We have played against them two times, we won two weeks and we lost at Old Trafford in my first game after the referee gave a red card, penalty and a goal - nothing was the right decision.
"I don't think they are better than us and in these games anything is possible."
Despite leading the club to a runners-up spot in the Premier League and the final of the Champions League Grant continues to face questions regarding his future at Stamford Bridge.
However, he remains unconcerned by the speculation suggesting he is set for a summer departure and insists that he will continue to do his job until told otherwise.
"I don't see anything else," he said.
"I have said all the time, nothing has changed.
"I have always said, even when I first took the team, I have to focus on my job, not what other people say.
"What I must now do is concentrate on the game on Wednesday and not look to the past or the future."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 16th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs West Brom |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Man City |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Portsmouth |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Hull vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Man Utd vs Newcastle |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs Tottenham |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Liverpool |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Wigan |
| Saturday 23rd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Arsenal |
| 15:00 | Liverpool vs Middlesbrough |
| 15:00 | Man City vs West Ham |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Sunderland |
| 15:00 | West Brom vs Everton |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Chelsea |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 11th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Middlesbrough 8 - 1 Man City | |
| Everton 3 - 1 Newcastle | |
| West Ham 2 - 2 Aston Villa | |
| Portsmouth 0 - 1 Fulham | |
| Derby 0 - 4 Reading | |
| Sunderland 0 - 1 Arsenal | |
| Wigan 0 - 2 Man Utd | |
| Birmingham 4 - 1 Blackburn | |
| Tottenham 0 - 2 Liverpool | |
| Chelsea 1 - 1 Bolton | |
| Monday 5th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 0 - 2 Chelsea | |
| Sunday 4th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 1 - 0 Man City | |
| Arsenal 1 - 0 Everton | |
| Saturday 3rd May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Bolton 2 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Fulham 2 - 0 Birmingham | |
| Reading 0 - 1 Tottenham | |
| Middlesbrough 2 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Blackburn 3 - 1 Derby | |
| Aston Villa 0 - 2 Wigan | |
| Man Utd 4 - 1 West Ham | |
Predicting Kevin Keegan would send Mystic Meg's crystal ball cloudy, but Peter Fraser takes up the task.
Join the Sky Sports debate on Luiz Felipe Scolari's first press conference as Chelsea boss.
Opta look at how Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe could perform together next term at Portsmouth.
Rafa Benitez has hinted he may target David Villa as a replacement for Portsmouth-bound Peter Crouch.
Follow all the day's moves in the transfer market including the latest on Frank Lampard's future.
Sky Sports News understands that Chelsea have rejected Internazionale's bid for Frank Lampard.
Martin O'Neill says Aston Villa have written to Liverpool to propose a deal for Gareth Barry.
Luiz Felipe Scolari says he plans to trim his Chelsea squad by at least seven players over the summer.