Derby stakes high for Grant

Avram Grant will be back in the limelight tomorrow when attention switches from Chelsea’s FA Cup exit back to the club’s Barclays 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 on Wednesday, giving an impression of business as usual at the club.

Losing to the top flight’s bottom club would be another huge upset as Chelsea protect a two-year unbeaten record at Stamford Bridge, while 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 has told the London Evening Standard that 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 person from AC Milan to suggest the striker would be welcomed back at his former club.

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