Grant wins quietly where Mourinho failed loudly
This time the injuries have been worse and the African Cup of Nations has deprived Grant of a further four players, including two of the club’s brightest stars, Didier Drogba and Michael Essien. If the biennial tournament had fallen last winter, Mourinho’s views on the subject would have been eminently quotable.It isn’t Grant’s style to rail against events beyond his control. Nor is it his style to complain at all, or give the media the sound bites they enjoyed under his predecessor. He has refused to whinge about an injury list which currently deprives him of the heartbeat of the squad, John Terry and Frank Lampard, and has also left him without Petr Cech, Ricardo Carvalho, Michael Ballack and Florent Malouda for varying spells.The Israeli has griped about the criticisms of his functional football but he has largely maintained a low profile and, as importantly, kept the spotlight off his players and allowed them to get on with it. Although he has been favoured with new signings during the transfer window in the shape of Nicolas Anelka and Branislav Ivanovic - who lacks match fitness after arriving from the Russian league which has shut down for winter - his refusal to publicly demand reinforcements has bolstered the belief of his players.Roman Abramovich, the owner, though recognising Mourinho’s motivational and tactical acumen, grew tired of his confrontational tendencies and egocentricity. There was even the feeling in the dressing room that the Portuguese wanted to hog the glory of major results. Grant has employed gentler means, and a sign of the times came after the Carling Cup semi-final second leg at Everton on Wednesday night.Mourinho did not fare well in semi-finals on Merseyside and after the Champions League defeats at Liverpool he left fireworks behind him with those complaints about “ghost” goals and only one team wanting to play. Such aggravation is conspicuous by its absence under Grant. There have been no sideshows on the touchline. He won the grudging admiration of some Evertonians after his team produced the textbook away-day performance to win 1-0, and 3-1 on aggregate, and there were even mutterings among them that Chelsea might also be a bet for Champions League success.Grant has taken more of a back seat, to the delight of Abramovich, his champion, and has given the players the stage. True professionals, they have responded. The results have been impressive. His team have won 21 and lost two of his 28 games in all competitions. Remarkably, they have conceded only five goals in their 14 away matches and are in the final of the Carling Cup, still alive in the Champions League and FA Cup, and back in business in the Premier League, four points off the leaders, Manchester United.”Chelsea are the team to fear now,” said Cech, the goalkeeper. “With everything that has happened this season, we have got through with great character. Winning all four competitions is possible.”We are using all the squad and it’s great to know that we can keep playing well and winning. Imagine the day when everyone comes back - we will be stronger again and able to rotate and rest players.”Mourinho fostered a ruthless will to win but Grant, in his understated way, has shown that this is not the sole preserve of the Portuguese. Henk Ten Cate and Steve Clarke, the assistant coaches, do much of the work on the training ground and the cynics suggest that anyone could make a decent fist of Grant’s job, such are the resources at his disposal. But that is to overlook the difficulties associated with man-managing two dozen millionaire footballers.”I didn’t imagine we’d have so many injuries but you can go two ways: you can trust your squad or bring in six or seven players,” said Grant. “It’s not easy to find better because the ones here are quality players. They have good character and what they have done in the last months is amazing.”At the beginning of December, after the Premier League win over Sunderland at Stamford Bridge, Grant was spotted strolling along Fulham Broadway with Abramovich. Chelsea are in harmony and growing in conviction.New Year resolution 2007 v 20082007-08Dec 26 Prem Chelsea 4 Aston Villa 4Dec 29 Prem Chelsea 2 Newcastle 1Jan 1 Prem Fulham 1 Chelsea 2Jan 5 FAC Chelsea 1 QPR 0Jan 8 CC Chelsea 2 Everton 1Jan 12 Prem Chelsea 2 Tottenham 0Jan 19 Prem Birmingham 0 Chelsea 1Jan 23 CC Everton 0 Chelsea 1Record P8 W7 D1 L02006-07Dec 26 Prem Chelsea 2 Reading 2Dec 30 Prem Chelsea 2 Fulham 2Jan 2 Prem Aston Villa 0 Chelsea 0Jan 6 FAC Chelsea 6 Macclesfield 0Jan 10 CC Wycombe 1 Chelsea 1Jan 13 Prem Chelsea 4 Wigan 0Jan 20 Prem Liverpool 2 Chelsea 0Jan 23 CC Chelsea 4 Wycombe 0Record P8 W3 D4 L1
Tags: acumen, assistant coach, cate, champion, champions league, chelsea, ford, henk, job, john terry, lampard, manchester united, mutt, premier league, roman abramovich, steve clarke, ten cate