Grant not happy with Mikel ban

AVRAM GRANT has voiced his disappointment at the FA’s decision to reject Chelsea’s appeal against Mikel John Obi’s sending off against Manchester United on Sunday.

Mikel was red-carded by referee Mike Dean during Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford for a challenge on Patrice Evra.

But Chelsea’s appeal was dismissed by the FA’s disciplinary commission yesterday.

The Nigerian midfielder will now serve a three-match suspension, starting with Chelsea’s Carling Cup third-round tie at Hull tonight.

Mikel will also sit out the Blues’ next two Premier League games — at home to Fulham on Saturday and at Bolton.

Grant said: “I am very disappointed and surprised. One of things I teach my players and even my children is that when you make a mistake you can admit it.

“I can promise if I make a mistake I will tell you. It has happened to all of us — nobody is perfect.

“The referee made a mistake — he made three mistakes — but one of them he could correct and he didn’t do it, so I am very disappointed.

“On Sunday, the referee affected the result with three bad decisions. Our players were very disappointed but I like their reaction. If I saw something wrong, it was the decisions of the referee.”

Grant has now had time to work with the players following his shock elevation to the job as Jose Mourinho’s successor last Wednesday.

Although his first game in charge ended in that 2-0 defeat against United, he believes he has the full backing of the players despite continuing stories of dressing-room unrest.

Grant said: “I think I have the backing of the players. I can only judge them by their actions or by the words they speak to me.

“I spoke with the players individually and even before I became a manager. My relationship with them is good and I enjoy working with them. You saw on Sunday their attitude was at a high level.

“But look, I don’t think anyone is happy from this situation. The situation has happened but nobody in the club was happy. But it has happened and this is football, it is not the first time it has happened.

“I am very happy with their attitude, even from the injured players,” he added.

But Grant knows that in a squad of 25, there will always be someone who is a unhappy.

Grant added: “It has been much better than I thought and I am sure it will be much better from now. When you have 25 players in the squad it sometimes happens that one or two are not happy.”

Grant admits it is not an ideal time to take charge but insists he had no hesitation about moving into Mourinho’s seat.

He is now determined to get Chelsea playing the kind of stylish football billionaire owner Roman Abramovich desires — but he warns that it will take time.

Grant added: “I am not naive, I know it is not an ideal time to take the team. No time for preparation or to put my style into the team.

“It is not an ideal time but I believe in this team, the club and the players.

“I think we can do something here. This season we haven’t played so well or scored enough goals, so we need things to improve and in a short time,” he added.