Not Future

Chelsea manager Avram Grant has again dismissed his own personal future as irrelevant ahead of Wednesday's Champions League final...

Chelsea manager Avram Grant has again dismissed his own personal future as irrelevant ahead of Wednesday's Champions League final...

The 53-year-old has a good record in his eight months at Stamford Bridge to date, but is yet to pick up a trophy. With the pressure now on to land the Champions League, speculation is rife as to Grant's replacement should he fail in his task.

On Monday British newspapers had speculated that outgoing Barcelona head coach Frank Rijkaard and Inter Milan's manager Roberto Mancini were possible replacements for Grant should he fail to win the Champions League.

However, Grant told the world's media at Tuesday's news conference in Moscow that the final was about the club, and not himself. "You need to respect everyone at Chelsea, the staff and the supporters, and ask questions about the final, this is not about me," he said.

"We are here because we are here for the most important game in the history of the club. I am here. I want to win and I want to do my job."

Moscow A Home From Home

Grant also stated that playing in Moscow is like a home from home for Chelsea. Aside from the obvious link between the city and club owner Roman Abramovich, the Israeli boss says that the club's fan-base is superb.

"We feel really at home here and really positive I must say. We started to walk today but we couldn't walk more than five to 10 minutes and had to change our plans. There are also 50,000 of our own fans out here and it is great," he added.

Grant concluded by joking that he would enjoy a drink of vodka with Abramovich should Chelsea win the trophy on Wednesday, with members of the press also invited along! "I am not usually a drinker but on this occasion yes [I will have a drink with Abramovich]. If we win I will drink more than one glass, with you lot also," he concluded.

source; Steve Michaels, Goal.com