Grant confirms Ten Cate as Chelsea target
Chelsea boss Avram Grant stopped short of confirming Ajax coach
Henk ten Cate will be one of his lieutenants at Stamford Bridge but
admitted the Dutchman was among the names on his shortlist.
Grant's inability to confirm ten Cate would join his staff was
mirrored in Holland, where the Ajax coach played down suggestions
he would be leaving the Dutch side for Chelsea.
Ajax have been eliminated from the UEFA Cup but ten Cate insists he
will be on the bench as normal when they play Sparta Rotterdam on
Sunday.
Grant has always worked with two assistants and, with Steve Clarke
set to continue in his role, the Israeli is looking for one other
to report to him.
Grant declared: 'It is not a secret. I have made it clear in the
past that we have lost four coaches - one assistant coach, one
fitness coach, one goalkeeping coach and one scout.
'We are looking for replacements for them. We have checked many
possibilities and I have checked personally. It will be my decision
- I am in charge of my staff and my players.
'I need to work with these people but I want my two assistants to
be top of the line - one British one I have is top of the line and
we want the European to be one of the best.
'I have had a meeting with people in the last two weeks and Henk
has a good record as assistant in Barcelona. I am still looking for
an assistant so I cannot tell you anything for sure.
'I have the British assistant in Steve Clarke, who is doing a very
good job.
'In the last two weeks, it has not been easy for him - he replaced
two men not one. We are in a different way of training - the coach
is coaching and I am manager.
'We are still looking for other assistants from Europe and one of
them has been mentioned. We checked many coaches and possibilities
but I don't want to say anything because it is not finished
yet.
'Henk has a good record and he is a nice person and when I am
looking for an assistant, they would be from the top of the line
because they need to work under me and understand the mode of
football and the system of playing.
'We are trying to do it as soon as possible but I don't want to
rush and not find good people. We will do the best for
Chelsea.'
But in Holland, ten Cate told RTV Noord Holland: 'Despite the fact
that we are now out of the Champions League and UEFA Cup, I still
feel secure in my position.
'I will be, as normal, on the bench when we meet Sparta on Sunday.
I don't want to say more about all the speculation about me and
Chelsea.'
Grant also insisted Clark's future was safe under his managerial
tenure.
There had been speculation Clarke was set to quit the club since
Jose Mourinho's surprise departure but Grant attempted to put an
end to it all by saying he was more than happy with Scotsman's
contribution.
Grant added: 'I am very happy with Steve and I don't recall in the
past saying I was looking for a replacement for him. He is doing
more now than he was doing before because we have changed the way
of training.
'I must say again he was a key player in the last two weeks. I
speak with Steve every day and I think he is happy. If not, he will
say so.'
Grant will welcome back fit-again Frank Lampard for Sunday's
Barclays Premier League trip to Bolton but is without striker
Didier Drogba through suspension.
Grant has no problems with Lampard reporting for England duty, even
if his match fitness is still lacking.
Grant added: 'Frank has trained very hard in the last two weeks and
he looks good. Of course I am happy that he could be ready for
Sunday.
'Frank does a good job on the pitch not just in terms of goals, he
does other things as well, and I will be very happy if he is
fit.
'If he is not fit and doesn't feel good for Sunday, we will see
what happens then. It will depend on his condition and how he
feels.
'If he is fit, I don't have a problem with him going with
England.'
Grant is also happy for captain John Terry to continue wearing the
face mask to protect his fractured cheekbone.
Grant said: 'We don't know how long John will have to wear the mask
but he felt food with it - better than we thought he would.
'He headed the ball many times, especially in the last 10 or 15
minutes against Valencia when they were using the long ball. I
didn't see any problem for him.'
