Grant agonises over final selection

AVRAM GRANT admits he is facing one of the toughest decisions of his managerial career ahead of tomorrow’s Carling Cup final against Tottenham at Wembley.

Grant is agonising over whether to recall captain John Terry and midfielder Frank Lampard for the season’s first cup final after leaving them on the sidelines against Olympiacos in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Terry has played just one game since recovering from a fractured foot and Lampard has started twice since he shook off a troublesome thigh problem he sustained in the 4-4 St Stephen’s Day draw with Aston Villa.

Both players were absent when Chelsea clinched a place in the final and while Grant says it is not his intention to punish them for being injured, he accepts there is a case of rewarding those who got them to Wembley.

“I think always about the next game,” admitted Grant. “John and Frank were injured but I don’t intend to punish any player that wants to play.

“They both wanted to play every game, even every training game, but they were injured. I am not going to punish them for that or because other players played very good.

“Rewarding players is not the main thing but I am thinking about that. It is not an easy decision.”

Grant does not feel he is under pressure to land his first trophy in order for him to kill off the memory of Jose Mourinho’s achievements.

“We don’t need to kill the ghost of Jose Mourinho because he did a good job,” said Grant. “We don’t need to do it. I am doing my job in Chelsea and until now the staff and the players have done a good job. If we win the trophy it will be good but if not, we will keep our way to put Chelsea where they need to be.”

Like Grant, Tottenham coach Juande Ramos took over the club midway through the season.

Grant added: “I think Juande is a great coach and a great person. He has a lot of knowledge about football and in my opinion he has been a big success in Tottenham so far.”