SOCCER/Olympiakos v Chelsea:Avram Grant already has the hangdog expression of the insomniac, but the Chelsea manager is prepared for further tests of endurance. "Our target is to get at least into the final of the Champions League and I will not rest until we get there," he said before the first leg of the last-16 tie here against Olympiakos tonight.
"Chelsea is a big club, but if we want to be a really big club we need to be at least in the final and then do more and more. Our target is to do it in the next two years, but we hope to do it this year."
Evidence of the freakish snowstorm that hit the Greek capital on Sunday, and resulted in the Chelsea's flight being forced to circle Athens airport for two hours before the runway was cleared for the plane to land, was apparent yesterday. Groundsmen at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium had left sizeable drifts across the final third of the pitch, and the area cleared of snow for Chelsea's training session was sodden.
The blue skies and sunshine earlier in the day reflected the clarity of Grant's thoughts, however. For the first time since he replaced Jose Mourinho last September he has the full embarrassment of owner Roman Abramovich's riches available to him. He had chosen to leave Andriy Shevchenko in London, because the striker was not 100 per cent fit after coming on as a substitute against Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday, but the squad he watched go through their paces last night bristled with power.
The African Cup of Nations quartet of Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Salomon Kalou and Mikel John Obi have returned; the treatment room has emptied. Grant has the opportunity to play Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack in the same midfield, or Drogba with Nicolas Anelka up front, among other selection teasers.
Some players will miss out, star names will be disappointed, but Grant has a clear picture of how he can deploy his resources for the battles ahead. Chelsea are not only eyeing a Champions League final, they also have the English League Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday and an FA Cup quarter-final at Barnsley next month, and they remain in contention for the Premier League title.
"What is more of a headache, this one (over team selection) or the one I have had for two or three months (with players missing)?" asked Grant. "This one is less sore. There are more opportunities, which is very good for me and for the team.
"When I have all the players, I know who will play, how we will play and who will be on the bench. You need to be ready for any situation. But there is not a first team. Football is now all about a squad. I can't tell you I'm thinking only of this game (against Olympiakos), because I am not, but we must first deal with it. I make my decisions based on what will be best for Chelsea in this game and the next one and the next one. I have no problem leaving any star name out."
Essien echoed Grant's sentiment about success when the Ghanaian said that Chelsea would be "a bigger club if we can win the Champions League".
Olympiakos have been Greece's champions for 10 of the past 11 years, but the coach, Panagiotis Lemonis, has brought progress in the Champions League. Having eschewed past policy of signing ageing stars such as Rivaldo and Christian Karembeu in favour of nurturing a more balanced squad, the club have reached the knock-out stage for the first time in nine years, emerging from a group that contained Real Madrid, Werder Bremen and Lazio. If Grant's dream is to persist, they must not be underestimated.
Meanwhile, Portugal international Paulo Ferreira has signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea. Speculation had surrounded the future of the 2004 Champions League winner, who was signed by Mourinho before the 2004-05 season.
But the 29-year-old has signed a deal which is likely to tie him to Stamford Bridge for the remainder of his career.
The former Porto defender has made 130 appearances for Chelsea, but has faced stiff competition for the right-back slot from summer recruit Juliano Belletti this season.
