Grant takes a leaf out of the Special One’s book

AVRAM GRANT, if in reflective mood this morning, may well suggest his gamble to launch an attack on the English media has paid quite spectacular dividends.

Until he let rip in last Friday’s press conference at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground the ‘Normal One’ had given the impression that he was willing to put up with almost anything in return for a crack at his dream job.

He had already been labelled as nothing more than a caretaker at Stamford Bridge by many pundits and even a four-year contract and 24 wins in 35 had changed nobody’s mind.

Perhaps Grant felt he had little to lose when, after a week of constant sniping and innuendo, he finally stood up for himself and accused his critics of lies and a lack of respect.

But judging by his team’s performance during a 4-0 victory over London rivals West Ham, achieved largely with only 10 men on the field after Frank Lampard was harshly sent off for pushing Luis Boa Morte in the chest, it may equally show there is a lot more to the quiet Israeli than is apparent at first glance.

He doesn’t enjoy comparisons with his predecessor Jose Mourinho, for obvious reasons, but was there something of the Special One in the way Grant deflected attention from his team this weekend and onto himself instead?

While newspapers were concentrating on Avram’s ranting it left his players free to sort out their internal problems away from the glare of publicity – and the results were little short of spectacular.

Grant, accused of getting his tactics wrong in the Carling Cup Final when he asked Nicolas Anelka to play wide left, took the remarkably brave decision of leaving leading scorer Didier Drogba on the bench to allow Anelka a more central role.

He also recalled Salamon Kalou, Joe Cole, Michael Ballack and Claude Makelele who had all been surprisingly omitted at Wembley, before sitting back to watch a vintage Chelsea performance in which all four of those players were immensely influential.

Kalou won a 17th minute penalty that Lampard converted with aplomb. Then Joe Cole swept home a wonderful left-foot strike and Ballack struck an even more sweetly-hit first-time effort from a Lampard pass. Three goals in a stunning five minute period meant Chelsea were home and hosed by the 22nd minute, and even Lampard’s dismissal before the break failed to end their progress, with Ashley Cole scoring his first goal for the club in the second half.

It’s typical of Grant’s reception from the English press that one of the first questions asked in the post-match conference was a rather cheeky “Is that the team you should have picked last week?”

But although the Israeli didn’t appear to see the irony of that particular line of enquiry he had a right to feel vindicated after a week in which so many people have questioned his credentials.

Certainly the performance of his captain John Terry proved Chelsea players are motivated enough under his guidance to be serious contenders in the title race, not to mention the Champions League and FA Cup.

“I think we sent out a message today,” said Terry. “A lot of people have been criticising us recently but we put in a great performance.

“We have reacted to what’s been said in the papers and reacted in a positive way. That’s the only thing the players can do on the pitch.

“We have to keep believing we can win the title. Arsenal slipped up this weekend so it’s crucial we keep winning. Fair play to Manchester United, they are a very good team and are winning games and playing well. But any time they slip up we have to make sure we’re there.”

Midfielder Cole, too, was equally upbeat after an impressive return to the side.

“It was a great response not just from the players that played today but from everyone at the club,” he said. “We’ve had a good week to take everything in and now we’ve had a good performance. The run-in has started and it’s a good time to come into form.”

It certainly is. And – whisper it quietly in the pressroom – maybe a certain stony-faced Israeli deserves the credit.

WEST HAM (4-5-1): Green 6, Neill 4, Ferdinand 6, Upson 5, McCartney 6, Faubert 4(Solano 66, 6), Noble 7, Mullins 6, Ljungberg 5, Boa Morte 5 (Ashton 46, 5), Cole 6 (Zamora 65, 6).

Subs Not Used: Wright, Spector.

CHELSEA (4-5-1): Cech 7, Ferreira 7, Carvalho 7, Terry 9, A Cole 8, Ballack 8, Makelele 8 (Alex 84), Lampard 7, Kalou 7 (Malouda 75), Anelka 7, J Cole 8 (Essien 69, 7).

Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Drogba.

REFEREE: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire) 8: There are serious question marks over his decision to send off Lampard (it deserved no more than a yellow) but he took advice from his linesman on that one.

MATCH RATING: **** What more do you want from a London derby than four stunning goals, two of them from players returning to their old club, a penalty and a sending off? Just a shame West Ham didn’t contribute more.