Kezman slams Grant impact

Ex striker feels Chelsea are a faded force under Grant

By Ben Collins   Last updated: 4th April 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Kezman slams Grant impact

Kezman: In Chelsea colours

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Former Chelsea striker Mateja Kezman has hit out at Blues boss Avram Grant, claiming they would not have lost the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Fenerbahce under Jose Mourinho.

Kezman spent the 2004-05 season at Stamford Bridge and secured Mourinho's first trophy as Chelsea manager by scoring the winner in the 2005 Carling Cup final.

The Serbia international also helped Chelsea win the Premier League title that season before leaving for Atletico Madrid and then moving onto Fenerbahce.

Kezman faced his former club in Istanbul on Wednesday, when Chelsea allowed the hosts to come from behind and claim a one-goal advantage heading into the second leg.

The 28-year-old believes that would never have happened under Mourinho and insists the Blues' team spirit has suffered following Grant's appointment.

Machine

"Under Mourinho, Chelsea were a machine and they worked for 90 or 95 minutes without mistake or faults," he told the Daily Mail.

"If Mourinho had been in charge of this match, of course it would have been different.

"He's a very different coach and in his time there were no surprises and no mistakes. Everything worked fantastically. They don't have the same spirit in the team any more.

"We are full of confidence for the second leg," Kezman added. "We will not show as much respect for them in London."