UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE:JOHN TERRY has offered a heartfelt defence of Avram Grant, saying the Chelsea manager has played "a massive part" in steering the club to their first Champions League final and declaring it "unbelievable" that doubts still persist over whether the Israeli will remain in the position at the end of the campaign.
Grant, who was in Poland yesterday to address an audience at Auschwitz the day after Holocaust Memorial Day, could yet emerge having secured a remarkable league and cup double. He has already superseded his predecessor Jose Mourinho's achievements in the Champions League at Chelsea and, while Roman Abramovich did not witness the 3-2 victory over Liverpool which secured a place in the final in Moscow, the possibility that Grant could still relinquish his position in the summer now seems remarkable.
Asked whether his achievement in taking the club to their first European Cup final should be enough to keep the manager in a job, Terry replied: "I would have thought so. Things have been very good and results don't lie. Look at the Premier League table since the manager's taken over - he's been very good. It's for the club to make the decision. All we can do is get out and do our best for the manager, which is what we've done to get to the final.
"Avram deserves respect. It's the first time in the club's history we've got to the final. It's never been done by any manager or any set of players here. Avram does deserve respect, yes. He played a massive part, along with the players, (the assistant managers) Steve Clarke and Henk ten Cate, the fans and everyone at this club. To get to where we are and still be questioning the manager's role at the club is unbelievable really."
Yet there were words of warning from the first manager to suffer at Abramovich's hands yesterday when Claudio Ranieri, now at Juventus but sacked in 2004 after losing to Monaco in the semi-finals, tempered his congratulations by warning Grant that he must beat Manchester United in the final. Asked what would happen if Chelsea failed to win in Moscow, the Italian said: "This is a difficult answer but I think, if Grant doesn't win, I think he's finished in the job. If Grant wins something then, okay, maybe. But if not, I don't know the mind of Roman Abramovich."
Grant's record since taking over from Mourinho in September is impressive. The goals shipped to Liverpool on Wednesday were the first surrendered at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League under the Israeli and he has lost only two of his 30 League games.
The club are unbeaten in the league since mid-December, a sequence stretching back 19 games, and have moved level on points with United with two games to play. The manager's ability to negotiate an awkward period when injuries ate into his squad and players were absent at the African Cup of Nations could yet prove decisive.
But, while the league campaign has been hugely impressive, it is the prospect of Moscow on May 21st that will truly stir enthusiasm.
"It's incredible," added Terry. "Credit us with the way we've dealt with things this year because, at times, it's not been easy. The manager, the coaching staff and those behind the scenes - we've got such a big squad, so how do you keep those who aren't playing motivated?
"They managed to do that. It's different for United, who have been there before. We are at the start of something very good. We knew, this time round against Liverpool, we had to do it. We had to be the better side. Finally, we've done it. Now we've got to go on and win the trophy."
Meanwhile, Chelsea have expressed concerns at comments made by West Ham manager Alan Curbishley in which he detailed his admiration for Alex Ferguson and declared that "it would be a great injustice if Manchester United were to lose the Premier League title" given that his West Ham side are due to visit Old Trafford tomorrow.
Curbishley has since attempted to defuse any controversy after first reflecting on Ferguson and United in a newspaper column last week but Chelsea have deemed the comments "unnecessary and inappropriate".
Curbishley wrote last week: "The general feeling among most managers is that they would like to see them crowned again," he wrote. "That's why I would raise a glass if United win the title. It would be, of course, a toast to Alex Ferguson, the best there is, and may ever be."
However, Curbishley insisted this week: "My West Ham team are not going to roll over at Old Trafford on Saturday and surrender to Manchester United. Our bonus scheme only kicks in from 10th place so if we finish 11th there is nothing."
Guardian Service
