carlyluvsunited
16-04-2008, 07:17 AM
AVRAM GRANT refused to concede the Premiership title after Chelsea's dramatic
1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic yesterday, while admitting that the Blues must beat
Everton tomorrow night to maintain their slim hopes of passing Manchester
United.
Alex Ferguson's side has a five-point lead and vastly superior goal difference with
only four matches remaining, after Emile Heskey's stunning intervention in injury
time at Stamford Bridge, when he volleyed home an equaliser on his 400th
Premiership appearance. Michael Essien had given Chelsea the lead 10 minutes
into the second half.
"We're still in it and will keep on fighting," Grant said. "We need one more bad
result from Manchester United, but this result did not help us.
"The players still believe they can do it. We need to win the games against
Everton and Manchester United and need a bad result from them. This hasn't
changed so much."
The Chelsea fans appear less convinced, angrily turning on their manager at the
final whistle having already booed the team off after a goalless first half.
Grant was hindered by the unavailability of Didier Drogba because of a knee
injury and the late withdrawal of Frank Lampard as a result of a family illness,
although he also made five unforced changes that contributed to a lacklustre
performance, despite his claims to the contrary.
"I tried to keep them fresh as we have a big squad," he said. "It's not the first
time we have played with this team. The second half was one of our best
performances of the season. We created chances every three or four minutes
and their goalkeeper gave an excellent performance."
Rafael Benitez is expected to make a decision on his future once Liverpool's
Champions League campaign and last hope of silverware this season comes to
an end. The manager believes that the situation at Anfield is becoming
increasingly unworkable as the civil war that has engulfed the club shows no
signs of abating.
Despite the bitter boardroom ructions, Liverpool has impressed on the pitch,
reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League and maintaining fourth place in
the Premiership, but Benitez is concerned the off-field troubles could go on to the
summer and wreak havoc with pre-season plans.
While his position is by no means assured even if he does opt to stay on, Benitez
is aware that there would be no shortage of potential suitors at the end of the
season with both Barcelona and Inter Milan expected to change managers.
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1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic yesterday, while admitting that the Blues must beat
Everton tomorrow night to maintain their slim hopes of passing Manchester
United.
Alex Ferguson's side has a five-point lead and vastly superior goal difference with
only four matches remaining, after Emile Heskey's stunning intervention in injury
time at Stamford Bridge, when he volleyed home an equaliser on his 400th
Premiership appearance. Michael Essien had given Chelsea the lead 10 minutes
into the second half.
"We're still in it and will keep on fighting," Grant said. "We need one more bad
result from Manchester United, but this result did not help us.
"The players still believe they can do it. We need to win the games against
Everton and Manchester United and need a bad result from them. This hasn't
changed so much."
The Chelsea fans appear less convinced, angrily turning on their manager at the
final whistle having already booed the team off after a goalless first half.
Grant was hindered by the unavailability of Didier Drogba because of a knee
injury and the late withdrawal of Frank Lampard as a result of a family illness,
although he also made five unforced changes that contributed to a lacklustre
performance, despite his claims to the contrary.
"I tried to keep them fresh as we have a big squad," he said. "It's not the first
time we have played with this team. The second half was one of our best
performances of the season. We created chances every three or four minutes
and their goalkeeper gave an excellent performance."
Rafael Benitez is expected to make a decision on his future once Liverpool's
Champions League campaign and last hope of silverware this season comes to
an end. The manager believes that the situation at Anfield is becoming
increasingly unworkable as the civil war that has engulfed the club shows no
signs of abating.
Despite the bitter boardroom ructions, Liverpool has impressed on the pitch,
reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League and maintaining fourth place in
the Premiership, but Benitez is concerned the off-field troubles could go on to the
summer and wreak havoc with pre-season plans.
While his position is by no means assured even if he does opt to stay on, Benitez
is aware that there would be no shortage of potential suitors at the end of the
season with both Barcelona and Inter Milan expected to change managers.
Click below to join manutdtalk.com forums to read and
discuss all breaking news on all things United !!! Come talk to us….
http://manutdtalk.com/forums/register.php