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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avram make some bad team selections,joe cole on the right,essien at right back, malouda on the pitch,and the joke of the season anelka who mist the penelty no remorse could’nt give a monkeys. avram had to go along with the has beens at the bridge
- Posted by lee phillipsEvery manager at that level is judged on Silverware, he didn’t deliver :simple as.
his record for games was right up there but failed when push came to shove.
- Posted by farbetsHe picked the best players but not the best team.
Punched well above his weight, he’d be better off starting at Bolton.
glory glory man united. grant done fantastic though cant believe he was sacked complete joke but i dont care man u were the best team in europe this season and he could do nowt aboiut it
- Posted by turkeyAvram Grant has done well but any manager who succeeds Jose Mourinho has to be exceptional or at least put up an exciting show while trying.
He did not rock the boat and continued with Mourinho’s style but he was not able to win trophies. Nothing could have saved him in this respect.
- Posted by JohnSTthe world has gone positively bat sh** crazy when a guy can some into a team that is in shambles, finish second in the league and second in the Champion’s League (something they have never done even under the much beloved man he replaced)and be fired.
- Posted by papa bearHe is a bit of a schlub and not all that exciting but he did a decent job.
Oh and I hate to burst everyone’s bubble, but anyone with that much talent around him is going to do pretty well no matter what, so it’s a waste to drop a ton of money on a manager (just ask the overhyped, overrated SAF). I’m guessing Grant was cheap so it’s a bargain in that sense.
I agree with the sacking.. it was the right decision. he should never have been appointed in the first place. i first of all belive he infulenced roman in the departure of mourhinio.. and then wormed his way into being chelsea manager. hopefully the chelsea board has reconised that, and will bring back jose! (very unlikely i know!) hes done a good job, but the players obviusly are not 100% behind him. i hope jose comes back although he will never want to.. maybe zola would be a good choice ; )
- Posted by True Bluewas decent bloke he did better than i expected from him at first but he was never good enough for chelsea we needed better and justh hope we will get that and win some cups next year
- Posted by orianhe should have been given longer,well if chelse go for wholesale clearout they should have that weasel Kenyon leading the line.
- Posted by TelWhat the hell is wrong with Chelsea? They played well in the Champions Leauge final, their loss was a shame.
- Posted by Sarah CollinsHow can they expect a decent team when all the time they change the manager?. Man U do well because Alex Ferguson is a rock he lives and breaths the club. He will go down in history, there is never any question if he will get fired if they lose.
I think his behaviour towards the media was his main undoing. If you make it clear you’d rather not be in a press conference, the media arent going to like you
- Posted by MarkHe’s a nice man, but not a good manager, despite what some of you think - I’ve lost count of the number of players who have questioned or challenged his decisions or ability, from Drogba to Ben Haim to Ballack to ex-player Kezman and most recently Anelka. Something must be very wrong when your own players don’t respect u. And he left Chelsea’s trophy cabinet bare for the first time in 4 years, since the days of the other “nearly” man, Ranieri. In Mourinho’s own harsh but forthright assessment, this year Chelsea “nearly” won the Carling Cup, “nearly” won the League and “nearly” won the Champions League. If you say you are proud of that record, u are a loser.
- Posted by K. ChewAvram is a great coach he did great in chelsea but Chelsea like MAN UTD is a winning winning winning team i am sure if Man utd had any other coach he would have been sacked if they got a trophyless season Chelsea want a manager like Fergusion a manager who wants to win everything even after 20 years i would love to See the Special one back again we will never forget u.
Thanks Avram for everything u really saved us face this season.
- Posted by SultanI feel sorry for him - and Chelsea have been ruthless. I think Abromovic is like a big selfish baby that has big tantrums and throws toys out of the pram and in this case threw out his old buddy Grant.
Anyway I remember Grant grinning and gleaming like an evil cheshire cat, with Abramovic a few months before when they conspired against Mourinho.
So I don’t have that much sympathy for Grant. Like they say about Karma
“what goes round - comes round”
…lol
- Posted by Eddy JawedThis sacking is an absolute violation of a mans integrity. Did they tell him when they appointed him a third of the way through the season tat he had to win trophies with a team that wasnt his or he would face redundancy - I think not. That Kenyon is a disgrace to football and when will Roman see that it is that weasel he should be sacking and not a manager with a record at Chelsea that most would be proud of. I am ashamed.
- Posted by SimonI believe he had done enough to warrant another season, he took the ream into uncharted territory and came so close. I feel sorry for him….and I was on the terraces in Moscow.
- Posted by Barryyou win some you loss some
i think avram grant did graet!
- Posted by tomnever mind that- his talent will be apreciated by another team soon!
jeni te mrekullushem vazhdoni keshtu e mbani drogbaen ne chelsea e mos e lin te shkoj ne inter se huo chelsea pa dide drogben
- Posted by florjana[...] Source: Kevin Fylan [...]
- Posted by Soccer Camps » Blog Archive » Chelsea sack Avram Grant — your viewsAvram can hold up his head high. i think he deserved a pre-season and a full season to make a satisfactory impact. Lets not forget he improved chelsea’s record in the champions leaugue. He is Avram The great, not average avram. i hope this brings a new chapter of attacking football to chelsea.
- Posted by alfred DarkwahMay be a nice bloke but he couldn’t get things right for the biggest games. Therefore had to go.
- Posted by Luc