Grant accused of taking credit
Avram Grant has been accused of taking the credit for
inspiring Chelski's second-half revival at Fulham with a half-time
rollicking that was actually delivered by assistant coach Steve
Clarke.
Following the match, which the Blues recovered to win 2-1 having
trailed at the interval, Grant implied that he had inspired the
comeback with an impression of Sir Alex Ferguson's famous
'hairdryer' treatment. "If it helps to win I can break the chair,"
he told reporters at Craven Cottage. "Maybe you need it
sometimes."
But according to The Times, it was actually Clarke who 'tore into
the players when they returned to the dressing-room for the
interval at Craven Cottage, questioning their commitment and
exhorting them to raise their game, while Grant sat and
watched.
'The Israeli's contribution was quietly to announce the
substitution after Clarke's dressing-down had finished, before
explaining on a one-on-one basis how the change would affect
Michael Essien, who was moved into a more advanced midfield
role.'
The club's followers may feel that, given Chelski went on to win
the match, the identity of the rollicker is irrelevant, while Grant
could point to Clarke's integral role in the comeback as proof that
the complicated coaching structure at Stamford Bridge is
functioning. However, such an argument is severely weakened by
Grant, implicitly if not explicitly, seeking to claim credit for
Clarke's work and, as The Times stresses, the episode is bound to
'provide further ammunition for those who believe he lacks the
charisma to manage such an ambitious club'.
'Several senior sources at Chelsea have expressed concern about
Grant's ability to lift his players in the big matches and the fact
that he is relying on Clarke during a West London derby against
Fulham does not bode well for the future in that regard,' the
newspaper argues.
