Chelsea have acted quickly and some might say ruthlessly to their Champions League final defeat by Manchester United, opting on Saturday to sack Avram Grant.
There is no explanation on the Chelsea Web site, but then again none is really needed, I suppose. When you spend so much money on putting together the best team you possibly can, you don’t really want to settle for second place, do you?
I personally feel a bit sorry for Grant. I don’t know him at all, but he came across as a very likeable chap in his dealings with the press at the Champions League final. I particularly liked his parting shot to the media on the eve of the final: “I know you all care about me because you’re always asking if I’m going to stay or go,” he said.
But what do you think? Was this is an inevitable reaction to the defeat (as well as the player unrest that’s bubbling away), or did Grant deserve a chance to build his own team rather than doing the best he could with what Mourinho had left him?
And who on earth are Chelsea going to sign as his replacement? There’s a rumour in Italy that Mancini might be about to announce that he’s standing down. Maybe it’ll be Mourinho to Inter and Mancini to Chelsea…?
PHOTO: Avram Grant leaves the pitch after Chelsea’s Champions League final defeat by Manchester United, May 22, 2008. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh
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It has now become circus at chelsea. The whole bunch of them heads dont know what to do and dont have a heart to appreciate the good one does. How the hell do they think by prophesy or word of mouth they can win everything. Or do they think money kicks the ball? Do they at any momment ever realise that on the soccer pitch there are two teams and each team prepares adequately to conquer the other? Look guys, this is a game and all teams cant be first. The same Man U who are champs at some time were not doing well but they stuck on with the same coach. what we are seeing now are the results of patience. This justifies that Jose shouldnt have been fired in the first place. I hope all prospective coaches are aware of what lies ahead of them if they pick a job at circus chelsea…Suppose let Roman coach the team then there will be nobody to fire…come guys let us have feelings for others and the game…..
- Posted by Dawsonroman .. as aowner of chelsea have right to sack grant.. but he also need to sell john terry and anelka because they failed to score goal on penalty shoot.. not grant.. if grant shoot .. roman can sack him but when john terry not score goal roman not take any action. it unfair…
- Posted by Emmanuiland nobody is remembering Drogba his bad attitude. And nobody knows what kind
of result the teah would has with JM. Avram made a miracle staing in a such good team conditins after 8 month of being with the team. Roma-dengi eto ne vse, razberis s igrokami. Grant is a real coch.
MF
Following Mourinho, Grant was doomed to fail. Any manager was doomed to fail. This time, if it’s Rijkaard, Mancini, or whomever, and they don’t bring home important silverware, there won’t be an Avram Grant to blame. Fans will start to look higher on the org chart, straight at Peter Kenyon and Bruce Buck. After all, Abramovich can’t fire himself!
- Posted by Mikehttp://startingeleven.blogspot.com/2008/ 05/starting-eleven-football-blog-roundup _27.html
Indeed,Grant was a nice man but lacks d quality nd charisma requied of a manager.Having said that I think ROMAN should stop interfering in the managerial job.JOSE’exit stil a big mistake 4 chelsea!However,Grant’ succesor needs 2 work very hard if he wants 2 remain in the club.its either u are a champion or u leave
- Posted by yemi esqWhile José did all the job he (Grant) is running “with the flowers”… I am glad he’s gone now. Hope we have someone who’s at his place at chelsea Fc … As Mourinho was, A Great (and not grant) manager !
- Posted by LaurentChelsea is a Frankenstein football club - put together with mercenaries on Russian money. And Kenyon is the epitome of all that. Grant was always going to be the sacrificial lamb in a culture where instant success is seen as a substitute for tradition, loyalty and decency. It’s nice to know that there are still some things that money can’t buy.
- Posted by Jill ScullyBeginning of the end for Chelski. The two club who are traditionally the most successful in England have shown that stability in the managerial position leads to consistency. Here you have an owner who thinks he knows about football but doesn’t. Grant actually did a better job than Mourinho at getting the team to actually play football instead of grinding out results. Too bad, because they’ve certainly made the league more interesting. Oh well, all the better for us.
- Posted by AustingunnerMy views are those of Jose Mourinho - no friend of the pure beautiful game I revere - “almost is nothing”:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story? id=538795&cc=5901
As much as I wanted to see Cheating Chelsea lose the CL and as much as I can’t bear Mourinho’s shrill, win at all costs approach - Avram Grant and Roman Abramovich come off looking much worse than The Special One.
Jose is so right. You have to win.
Winning is beautiful.
Would be a good slogan for a sporting goods company.
There was Just Do It, then Impossible in Nothing, then… Almost is Nothing.
- Posted by Beautifulgamerroman .. as aowner of chelsea have right to sack grant.. but he also need to sell john terry because he failed to score goal on penalty shoot.. not grant.. if grant shoot .. roman can sack him but when john terry not score goal roman not take any action. it unfair…
- Posted by deckothis is football. chelsea want the best and if grant hadnt lost to spurs, barnsley, man utd and the premiership he would still have a job. everybody feels for him of course, but this is football.
- Posted by keeping the faithgood luck for the future Avram top bloke.
Avram Cant was not a proper manager, and didn’t have the experienced required to manage the biggest club in europe! This was proved with our runner up positions. Bring back Jose!!!!!!!!!!
- Posted by Daniel White