Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., May 27, 2008 Iyyar 22, 5768 | | Israel Time: 08:16 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 10:26 26/05/2008 Avram Grant leaves Chelsea with reputation enhanced By David McDonnell Tags: soccer, Grant, Chelsea In the end, it came down to a single conversation, a summons to a house in Knightsbridge's Billionaires Row and an inevitable conclusion. But as Avram Grant walked out of Chelsea for the last time, he knew that he was leaving a basket case of a club behind - and that he was the only man to have emerged from the last eight months with his reputation enhanced. So close to winning three trophies, just a penalty kick from being crowned the champions of Europe, Grant paid the price for being another of Roman Abramovich's disposables. Advertisement Yet even while many of the Chelsea fans who had refused to give him the credit he deserved mocked his "passing," it was Grant who had the right to stand tall in front of all of them. Had John Terry's foot not slipped in Moscow, Grant may have still been in the job today. After all, Abramovich is a man of whims, of spur-of-the-moment decisions, and in victory he was likely to precipitate a reversal of all that had been discussed behind the Stamford Bridge scenes in the past three months. Sunday night, as the game of briefings began in earnest, with all the snide mutterings about Grant's lack of charisma and the absence of what the tabloids are calling the "wow" factor, it seemed the decision was probably made after the humiliating defeat at the hands of lowly Barnsley in the FA Cup 11 weeks ago. Within seconds of the final whistle and elimination at the hands of a side in the Championship relegation zone, when Grant had been horrendously let down by the players to whom he showed far more loyalty than many of them showed him, the Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck's Blackberry went into overdrive. The e-mails and text messages came from the court of King Roman and the message was clear: Somebody had to take responsibility, and that was the coach. No matter that in the 16 games after Barnsley, Grant won 10, including victories over Liverpool and United, and lost just once, in the first leg against Fenerbahce. No matter that he took a club in decline and led them to within a game of the Premier League title. No matter that, having withstood the first-half onslaught, he out-thought Sir Alex Ferguson in the biggest game in Chelsea history, and was a single penalty kick away from being a Champions League winner. At Chelsea, a club where there are more factions than the Vatican, too many people had the same twisted agenda: to make Grant the scapegoat, so they could increase their own influence. It all adds up to what is hardly an enticing prospect - except for the $10 million pay-out - for the next man allowed into the execution chamber, especially when the scope of the other conditions is also evident. Grant's successor will be told in no uncertain terms that his first priority will be to clamp down hard and mercilessly on any hints of dressing-room disharmony. Childish games The Israeli, in effect, was condemned for allowing the likes of Didier Drogba to play their pathetic, childish games - even though Grant felt he had to earn the respect of his players, rather than demanding it. Yet while being the Hammer of the Dressing Room is viable, what is even harder to expect is a manager who will do the job hand in glove with the money man behind Chelsea. While Grant came into the job as Abramovich's friend, he was last night accused of turning his back on the billionaire by not involving him as much as the Russian expected. Given that Abramovich was initially delighted by the warmth of the welcome he received from the Israeli when he visited the club's Cobham training base - in stark contrast to life under Mourinho, where he was regarded as the "enemy" by the Portuguese and his coterie of acolytes - it seems like a rewriting of history to justify the decision. The truth is that Grant's first job was to establish his own credentials among a doubting squad - despite the disloyalty among some of those who were supposed to support him - which he achieved through his clarity of purpose and basic human decency. Grant did all that could have been asked of him and more. Two defeats in 32 league games was two fewer than Sir Alex Ferguson over the same period, while no Chelsea manager has ever taken the club further in Europe's biggest competition. It was not deemed sufficient and as Abramovich, listening to the advisors who took against Grant early on, fumed at the post Champions League Final wake in Moscow, it was simply a matter of timing. Yet Grant walked away from Stamford Bridge a more dignified figure than any of those left left behind. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Nuclear allegation Jimmy Carter says Israel has arsenal of 150 nuclear weapons. On penalty of death Rightist MK Eldad says those who give away Israeli land should get death penalty.   1.   i am surprised... 05:54  |  bashar 26/05/08   2.   Bravo to Avram Grant, excellent job, lacked luck. 06:19  |  Fortuna Benmayor 26/05/08   3.   Forever Grant... 09:39  |  Esther 26/05/08   4.   Esther #3 11:09  |  S 26/05/08   5.   Manchester looking for Grant? 15:23  |  Palestinian Brit 26/05/08   6.   Ignorant analphabet Palestinian Brit 20:18  |  S 26/05/08   7.   Sky News - Sister of Fox News....? 21:09  |  Palestinian Brit 26/05/08   8.   No 6 Ignorant? 21:36  |  Palestinian Brit 26/05/08   9.   UK Papers 03:16  |  T 27/05/08

Read & React Carter says Israel has 150 nuclear weapons Responses: 498 Sources: Israel, Hezbollah strike prisoner swap deal Responses: 77 U.S. professor gives Israeli prize money to Palestinian university Responses: 174 Palestinians reject Israeli offer to hand over 91.5% of W. Bank Responses: 214 Analysis / Price of quiet in Lebanon is Hezbollah in power Responses: 55 More Headlines 08:13 Sources: Israel, Hezbollah strike prisoner swap deal 05:23 Nasrallah's speech / Preparing Kuntar's 'homecoming' 05:33 Key witness Talansky slated to begin deposition in Olmert case 05:48 IAEA: Iran still holding back information about nuclear research 06:00 Israeli source: PA security forces have improved dramatically in West Bank 02:52 Monument to gay victims of the Nazis to be unveiled in Berlin 22:20 Defense officials: Anti-rocket system to be ready to test this year 02:46 Abducted soldiers' families skeptical about Lebanese reports of swap deal 02:47 Arab children nearly 3 times more likely to die in accident 02:44 Israel Police: Only one out of every 100 thieves is indicted 05:56 Justice minister blasts 'publicity hungry' Supreme Court 04:39 Shas threatens to bolt gov't over child welfare payments Previous Editions Select Day 26 may 25 may 23 may 22 may 21 may 20 may 19 may 18 may 16 may 15 may 14 may 13 may

Special Offers Advertisement Dead Sea Products Buy Dead Sea mineral skin care and beauty products. Coupon code Haaretz for 10% off. Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Istudy Learn Hebrew in 3 months The Terraces Your Ultimate Coastal Address On Nitza Boulevard, North Netanya Together Celebrating Israel's 60th The Jewish Agency and You - together making history Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved