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Grant: Players hold key in Chelsea's 'most important game'

20/05/2008

Chelsea boss Avram Grant has dismissed questions of his lack of Champions League managerial experience, claiming that the final is about the players on the pitch rather than himself.

Speaking at a press conference held ahead of the showpiece in Moscow, the Israeli stated his belief that this is "Chelsea's most important game", possibly alluding to the fact that his predecessor Jose Mourinho never managed to guide the London side to this stage of the competition.

Commenting on his role in Chelsea's bid for European supremacy, Grant said: "You need to prepare your players for the situations they will face but once they start playing it is their responsibility."

The Blues' boss also paid tribute to the pedigree of his opponent Sir Alex Ferguson, stating that he respects the Scot both as a "person and a manager".

"He has been here before [in 1999] and this is his second final," he said.

"The first one he won, I am in my first year as a manager. But I don't think this is as important as the players on the pitch."

Just after making the comments, Grant was given a slight scare as Ashley Cole and Joe Cole limped off in a training session, though both players shrugged off their knocks.