Avram Grant is one of the stories of the season in English football.
Most people expected Chelsea to implode after Jose Mourinho’s acrimonious departure from the club. On the contrary, Grant has been some kind of a calming influence at Stamford Bridge, with only two losses and five draws in the League since taking over from the Portuguese. The club is in the final of the Carling Cup, and favorites to win against Tottenham (whose manager Juande Ramos is probably an even bigger story). In the FA Cup, they are in the quarterfinals. Three points behind second-placed United in the League. And well placed in Europe as well.
It is worth pondering whether Chelsea have acquired any attacking flair that was lacking under Mourinho. My take is that their style still hasn’t changed much. But Grant for Mourinho is the equivalent of trading a troublesome manager and getting a quieter, less intrusive one instead.
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