Grant: no way I’ll undermine Jose
Grant was speaking after Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over Club America in the first match of their US tour.
He watched the game from the bench, but sat at the opposite end to Mourinho and, unlike the coach and his backroom staff, was not wearing a blue club tracksuit.
“I have absolutely no intention of interfering in his decisions; I don’t have anything to do with determining the team. My role is crystal clear and it is not meant in any way to undermine Mourinho,” said Grant, the former Israeli coach whose controversial arrival at Stamford Bridge came without Mourinho’s approval.
Owner Roman Abramovich even appointed the Israeli to the Chelsea board.
Last week, Mourinho gave the new man a lukewarm welcome to the club and insisted that his arrival “won’t interfere with the power I have in relation to my job”. Grant, who was in the Chelsea dressing room before, at half time and after the match against Club America, told Israeli newspaper Ha’Aretz that he was not upset by Mourinho’s comments. “Did he say anything wrong?” he said. “I don’t think he said anything wrong or offensive.”
Instead, Grant wanted to focus on the chat he had with the former Porto boss as they walked off the pitch together after the final whistle. “My relations with Mourinho are wonderful,” he said. “All the people at Chelsea are wonderful. They are all very positive professional, not at all bitter. They love their work and love the club. It’s fun working with them. I am enjoying every moment at Chelsea. Didn’t you see us when we left the pitch?”
Grant went on to say that he was proud to be working for one of the world’s biggest clubs and that his critics in Israel — among them former national coach Schlomo Scharf, who called Grant “a master-manipulator” — are just jealous. “They should stick to their own affairs,” he said.
“I’m not a visitor, I’m part of the management of one of the biggest clubs in the world. That’s reason enough for me to be very, very happy,” he added.
“I have a very important role at a very big and successful club, with enormous responsibility. I can’t see anything bigger than that right now.
“To work at a club like Chelsea with the kind of responsibilities I have is a dream that comes true only very rarely.
“Last year I wasn’t coaching [at Portsmouth]. Now I am in a new, different position and when you have a position like that at such a big club in the birthplace of football, you can allow yourself to be satisfied.”