One more topic from Starnews:
Refs favour United, says Grant
LONDON: Chelsea manager Avram Grant has made a stinging attack on Premier League referees, saying they helped Manchester United win the title, British newspapers reported yesterday.
Grant, who may risk the wrath of the Football Association (FA) over his remarks, added that he was glad the referee for the Champions League final against United in Moscow next Wednesday was not English.
“In England there are very good referees, but there are some, a few that you can influence, like you saw,” Grant told reporters.
He was referring to United’s last Premier League game of the season on Sunday, a 2-0 win at Wigan Athletic which clinched the title.
“I looked at the game. (The referee) was, as expected, good for one team,” Grant said.
“I told you I believed in the tradition of the fair English game. I will not say anything against it, but what happened is what I expected.”
Chelsea went into the final round of matches level on points with United, although behind on goal difference. They needed United to drop points if they were to pip them for the title but conceded a stoppage-time equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Bolton Wanderers.
Grant also said that in his first game in charge of Chelsea, a 2-0 defeat at United in September, midfielder John Obi Mikel was wrongly sent off.
“I think in our game against Manchester United at Old Trafford, the referee changed the result for sure,” he said.
“I think that (Paul) Scholes should have had a red card on Sunday and Wigan a penalty also,” he added.
“I do not think the world is against Chelsea, or English football. But in this case there were some coincidences, for Manchester United. But again I congratulate them (on the title).”
Chelsea beat United 2-1 last month to set up the nail-biting finale to the championship, a result they believe they can repeat in Moscow to deny United manager Alex Ferguson a second Champions League victory. – Reuters
Is this can happened in big championship like UEFA Cup final or etc...
Drogba - I'll make Moscow.....
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Didier Drogba Chelsea Premier League Football Bolton Wanderers
Chelsea star Didier Drogba has declared he will be fit to play in next week's Champions League final.
Drogba's participation in Moscow had been in doubt after he picked up a knee knock in Sunday's draw with Bolton.
The Ivory Coast international had an ice pack strapped to his knee after the game and Blues boss Avram Grant admitted Drogba's fitness was a worry for him.
Drogba has played down the severity of the injury and insists he will be fit in time for the clash with Manchester United.
"I got a blow on my knee which got surgery, and it had a bad reaction," Drogba told L'Equipe. "I immediately put some ice on, but there is nothing serious.
"I will resume training sessions this week.
Confident
Drogba is also confident Chelsea skipper John Terry will be fit to start in Moscow despite suffering a dislocated elbow at the weekend
"There is nothing more serious with John," added Drogba. "I had a talk with him. He will play at Moscow.
"Anyway, no one wants to miss that huge rendezvous. It is the match of our careers, to me it is for sure.
However, the former Marseille hot-man refused to discuss his future with reports last week suggesting Milan were closing in on his signing.
"Today I just have the Moscow final in my mind. What will happen in June or July? I don't know yet," continued Drogba.
Avram Grant expects John Terry and Didier Drogba to be fit in time for the UEFA Champions League final.
The pair picked up injuries in Chelsea's final Premier League game of the season against Bolton on Sunday and were considered doubtful for the European showdown.
The Blues' boss admits that he is yet to put the pair through their paces on the training ground, but is confident that the influential duo will make the trip to Moscow.
"We have not had training today (Tuesday) or yesterday so we have to wait until training tomorrow to see how they are," Grant told Sky Sports News.
"John Terry I think will be okay, Didier Drogba I don't know how serious that is but I think he will do everything possible to play in this game."
Exciting
Grant also revealed his pride at becoming the first Chelsea manager to lead the club to the final of Europe's premier club competition.
"Personally it is very exciting," he said.
"But it is more exciting because it is the first time my club have been in the Champions League final.
"They have tried and never come to the final,and now we are part of the history of a club who want to be a big club, and big clubs reach Champions League finals, so it's very exciting."
Confident
The Israeli is confident that the Blues can prevent United from snatching another trophy from under their noses, after seeing the Red Devils pip them to the league title on a thrilling final day.
"Of course we can beat them," he said.
"We have played against them two times, we won two weeks and we lost at Old Trafford in my first game after the referee gave a red card, penalty and a goal - nothing was the right decision.
"I don't think they are better than us and in these games anything is possible."
Despite leading the club to a runners-up spot in the Premier League and the final of the Champions League Grant continues to face questions regarding his future at Stamford Bridge.
Future
However, he remains unconcerned by the speculation suggesting he is set for a summer departure and insists that he will continue to do his job until told otherwise.
"I don't see anything else," he said.
"I have said all the time, nothing has changed.
"I have always said, even when I first took the team, I have to focus on my job, not what other people say.
"What I must now do is concentrate on the game on Wednesday and not look to the past or the future."
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