UK: New coach Avram Grant says not an ideal time to take over Chelsea football club

Record ID: 644597

  • Title: UK: New coach Avram Grant says not an ideal time to take over Chelsea football club
  • Date: 26th September 2007
  • Summary: COBHAM, NEAR LONDON , UK (SEPTEMBER 256, 2007) (REUTERS) PRESS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE (English) CHELSEA COACH AVRAM GRANT SAYING: "Look, I am not naive. I know that it is not an ideal time to take the team. No time for preparation, no time to put my style on the team, especially after three games that we didn't win. We scored two goals in four games before. So it is not an ideal time." JOURNALISTS IN PRESS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE (English) CHELSEA COACH AVRAM GRANT SAYING: "It's not an ideal time but I believe in this team. I believe in the club. I believe in the players. I saw them Saturday. I saw them last week. Very sensitive but very professional also. I like this combination." JOURNALISTS IN PRESS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE (English) CHELSEA COACH AVRAM GRANT SAYING: "We didn't score enough goals so we need many things to improve and to do it better and in a short time, because every two days we have a game. We don't have time to work, we need to speak about it. We need to do something to build the style through the training. It's a process. Its not coming in one day, but I know I don't have long time credit." JOURNALISTS IN PRESS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE (English) CHELSEA COACH AVRAM GRANT SAYING: "I think Chelsea, on the base that it have before, need to change something and need to improve the style of the team and I think we can do it with these players. This is the main things for me. We can not switch it. It's a process. I don't think that we need a long time, but it will not come in one day." JOURNALISTS IN PRESS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE (English) CHELSEA COACH AVRAM GRANT SAYING: "Didier started training yesterday, one week before we expected. Ricardo Carvalho started to train today, also a few days before. Frank Lampard is doing very well, so I expect to see them very soon in the team. And again, I can only say good words about their attitude and they want to play as soon as possible. We want them, also." JOURNALISTS IN PRESS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE (English) CHELSEA COACH AVRAM GRANT SAYING: "You see what's happened yesterday - Sunday. The referee affect the result in three bad decisions. Let's say if all the decisions were like everybody saw it was at least a draw for us. So I think our players was very disappointed but they reacted very supportive. I like the reaction. JOURNALISTS IN PRESS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 11th October 2007 13:00
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  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA4BF3J53IALBBHQAT6MRXROAR6
  • Story Text: New Chelsea coach Avram Grant says that although it is not an ideal time to take over the team he believes in the players.
    Avram Grant acknowledged on Tuesday (September 25) that the lack of time between games means that it is not an ideal time to take over as coach of Chelsea.
    Speaking at a press conference Grant, who took over the helm after the surprise departure of Jose Mourinho last week, said that the frequency of matches is making it difficult for him to impose his style of play on the team.
    "Look, I am not naive. I know that it is not an ideal time to take the team. No time for preparation, no time to put my style on the team, especially after three games that we didn't win," said the Israeli.
    "We didn't score enough goals so we need many things to improve and to do it better and in a short time, because every two days we have a game. We don't have time to work, we need to speak about it. We need to do something to build the style through the training."
    The holders go into their League Cup third round tie away at second division Hull on Wednesday (September 26) without injured regulars Didier Drogba, Ricardo Carvalho and Frank Lampard, although Grant says that the trio should be returning to action soon.
    "Didier started training yesterday, one week before we expected.
    Ricardo Carvalho started to train today, also a few days before. Frank Lampard is doing very well, so I expect to see them very soon in the team. And again, I can only say good words about their attitude and they want to play as soon as possible."
    Many clubs in the top flight often field younger or squad players in the League Cup, but without a win in four matches this is a luxury Chelsea can not afford.
    The League Cup was the first trophy Mourinho won at Chelsea in 2005, and the already intense pressure on Grant would increase enormously if Chelsea were to slip up.
    The last time the clubs met, in the third round of the FA Cup in 1999-2000, Chelsea won 6-1 at Hull and a similar scoreline would do wonders for the club's morale this week.
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