Grant rejects crisis talk

Chelsea boss hits back at critics

By Lewis Rutledge   Last updated: 29th February 2008

Grant rejects crisis talk

Grant: Angry reaction

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Avram Grant has hit back at his critics and played down the bust-up between Henk ten Cate and John Terry.

Chelsea turned in a disappointing performance as they lost to Tottenham in the Carling Cup final last week and Grant has faced criticism for a number of his decisions.

But he insists he should be allowed to move on without there being such speculation about his future, after enjoying a successful start to his Chelsea reign.

Asked about his relationship with the players following the defeat by Spurs, Grant reacted angrily.

"Why didn't you ask that question a week ago?" he fumed.

"Just because we lost one game, now this is wrong, that is wrong.

"I don't want to defend myself about this. The spirit is very good in the team, the situation is very good with the team.

Sorry

"We're sorry about what happened against Tottenham. I'm sorry, but we did a good job in the previous five months."

Grant accepts that his decision to play Nicolas Anelka on the left wing did not pay dividends but has rejected rumours that some of his players were critical of the selection.

He said: "Criticise me for that. If I put Anelka on the left side, it's my decision. I'll take criticism on that.

"He had a bad day, but I take the responsibility for everything - for my staff, for my selection. If I decided to play some players after injury, that was my decision.

No complaints

"No one has criticised me for the team that was selected. They all look forward. All the players knew the day before that they were playing.

"I'll do what I want. Nothing was different to other games. What was different was we lost."

It has emerged that Blues captain Terry and Dutch coach Ten Cate clashed in training prior to the game against Tottenham, but Grant insists the incident has been blown up out of all proportion.

He said: "I liked what Alan Shearer said. If you're a player, you know things like that happen. It was a discussion, you move on. They shook hands a minute later.

"No team in the world is without fighting. Sometimes it happens. Everything was okay a minute later. They shook hands, hugged."

Grant has also stressed that he has a good relationship with Roman Abramovich, adding: "I have no problem in relation with anyone at the club.

Respect

"It's not been easy but we've won a lot of games together. I speak with Roman Abramovich a lot of times. No-one was happy with what happened in the game on Sunday.

"Roman Abramovich has never told me one player that he needs to play, never told me to pick the team this way or that. I'm in charge. Please, you need to respect my professionalism.

"You're (the media) trying to hurt the team, hurt the club because we lost one game. Wait with the knife a little bit.

"When a new player comes to my team, I give him two months to show what he can do.

"You didn't behave too nicely. Now I don't respect you too much because we lost one game and you've taken it too far. I don't like it. You hurt my players, you hurt the club and this is not the right way."