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 | Result |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 23rd July | |
| UEFA Champions League Qualifying | |
| Valur Reykjavik 0 - 1 BATE | |
| Dinamo Zagreb 1 - 1 Linfield | |
| Domzale 2 - 0 F91 Dudelange | |
| Artmedia Petrzalka 1 - 0 Valletta | |
| Levadia Tallinn 0 - 1 Drogheda Utd | |
| Pyunik 0 - 2 Anorthosis Famagusta | |
| Buducnost Podgorica 1 - 1 Tampere United | |
| Modrica 2 - 1 Dinamo Tirana | |
| IFK Goteborg 4 - 0 Murata | |
| Tuesday 22nd July | |
| UEFA Champions League Qualifying | |
| NSI Runavik 1 - 0 Dinamo Tbilisi | |
| Rabotnicki Kometal 1 - 1 Inter | |
| FK Ventspils 4 - 0 Llanelli | |
| FC Sheriff 4 - 0 Aktobe | |
| FBK Kaunas 3 - 1 Santa Coloma | |
| Wednesday 16th July | |
| UEFA Champions League Qualifying | |
| Linfield 0 - 2 Dinamo Zagreb | |
| Aktobe 1 - 0 FC Sheriff | |
| Dinamo Tbilisi 3 - 0 NSI Runavik | |
| Drogheda Utd 2 - 1 Levadia Tallinn | |
| Tuesday 15th July | |
| UEFA Champions League Qualifying | |
| Murata 0 - 5 IFK Goteborg | |
| Valletta 0 - 2 Artmedia Petrzalka | |
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Drogheda United will meet Dynamo Kiev in the second qualifying round, but Linfield are out.
Llanelli's Champions League adventure is over, while FBK Kaunas set up a meeting with Rangers.
John Terry has admitted that he wakes up thinking about his penalty miss in the Champions League final.
New signing Kyle Lafferty will miss the start of Rangers' UEFA Champions League campaign with a back injury.
There were mixed fortunes for Irish sides, with Drogheda United winning but Linfield losing.