Grant accused of taking creditAvram Grant has been accused of taking the credit for inspiring Chelski's second-half revival at Fulham with a half-time rollicking that was actually delivered by assistant coach Steve Clarke.Following the match, which the Blues recovered to win 2-1 having trailed at the interval, Grant implied that he had inspired the comeback with an impression of Sir Alex Ferguson's famous 'hairdryer' treatment. "If it helps to win I can break the chair," he told reporters at Craven Cottage. "Maybe you need it sometimes."
But according to The Times, it was actually Clarke who 'tore into the players when they returned to the dressing-room for the interval at Craven Cottage, questioning their commitment and exhorting them to raise their game, while Grant sat and watched.
'The Israeli's contribution was quietly to announce the substitution after Clarke's dressing-down had finished, before explaining on a one-on-one basis how the change would affect Michael Essien, who was moved into a more advanced midfield role.'
The club's followers may feel that, given Chelski went on to win the match, the identity of the rollicker is irrelevant, while Grant could point to Clarke's integral role in the comeback as proof that the complicated coaching structure at Stamford Bridge is functioning. However, such an argument is severely weakened by Grant, implicitly if not explicitly, seeking to claim credit for Clarke's work and, as The Times stresses, the episode is bound to 'provide further ammunition for those who believe he lacks the charisma to manage such an ambitious club'.
'Several senior sources at Chelsea have expressed concern about Grant's ability to lift his players in the big matches and the fact that he is relying on Clarke during a West London derby against Fulham does not bode well for the future in that regard,' the newspaper argues.
