Business as usual for grim Grant

AVRAM GRANT will be back in the limelight today when attention switches from Chelsea’s FA Cup exit back to the club’s Premier League title challenge.

Three days after the shock defeat at Barnsley, Grant is scheduled for a media briefing ahead of the league clash against Derby tomorrow, giving an impression of business as usual.

Losing to the top flight’s bottom club would be another huge upset — especially since Derby’s only taste of victory away this season was after a penalty shoot-out at Sheffield Wednesday.

Avoiding a slip-up by securing maximum points would also put Chelsea five points behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand.

Grant was without Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard at the weekend with slight knocks, while goalkeeper Petr Cech is expected to miss the Derby clash as he nurses an ankle injury.

Cech claims the relationship between boss Grant and his players remains strong. “I think the relationships here are like in every club in the world in terms of the coach and the players,” he said.

“We’re a big club and have a coach who was unknown in England in the past and that is why everyone tries to find new things. If the relationship was not working, we would not be winning. This is clear evidence of that being just speculation.”

Grant insisted last week that Andriy Shevchenko has a future at Chelsea, although Paolo Maldini is the latest AC Milan player to suggest he would be welcomed back at his former club.

“At Milan there is always room for those who have done a lot,” Maldini said. “There is always space for those who have left a mark on the history of the club.”

Players were training yesterday in the heavy rain at the club’s base in Cobham, with England U-21 coach Stuart Pearce observing the session. Pearce, who is also in the backroom staff of England boss Fabio Capello, said: “I’ve been able to meet with John Terry, Frank Lampard and one or two others, and there are a lot of England players at this club, so it’s been good all round for me.”