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12:00 GMT, Friday, 2 May 2008 13:00 UK

Grant confident his job is safe

Avram Grant and Roman Abramovich

Avram Grant believes Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is "happy" with the club's progress and that his position as manager is not under threat.

Grant has led Chelsea to the Champions League final for the first time, but speculation remains over his future.

The Israeli confirmed that he spoke with Abramovich after their victory over Liverpool on Wednesday.

And he said: "I have a feeling that he is happy, very happy. We are in contact, and he's happy."

Chelsea are level on points with Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table and face them in the Champions League final in Moscow on 21 May.

But some critics are still questioning whether Grant, who succeeded fans' favourite Jose Mourinho in September, will be in charge next season.

"The relationship [with Abramovich] is good. Everything will be ok," said Grant.

"Do I look worried? I need to do my job all the time, to look at the present and the future in this club.

"About my personal life, I don't know what I'm doing tomorrow. Professionally, I know what Chelsea need to do tomorrow, a week from now or two years from now."

Club captain John Terry launched a fierce defence of Grant following the win over Liverpool, insisting he has done enough to keep his job and voicing his disbelief that anyone should now be questioning his position as manager.

"To get to where we are and still question his role is unbelievable," said Terry.

"It's the first time we've got to the final. No manager or set of players has ever done that. Results don't lie.

"To get to where we are and still question his role is unbelievable"
John Terry on Avram Grant

"You look at the Premier League table since the manager has taken over and they have been very good.

"All we can do once we are out there and once the manager is in charge is do our best and that's what we have done to get to the Champions League final."

But Terry said Chelsea's success was not just down to the influence of Grant, but everyone who worked with him.

"It's not just the manager, it is the players, and Henk ten Cate and Steve Clarke, who have a big role to play behind the scenes.

"They keep players motivated. We have got such a big squad of players and they manage to keep those not playing motivated and that is a credit to them.

606: DEBATE
Has Avram Grant done enough to silence his critics?

"We've shown character all year even when our bigger players have been out, the squad players have come in and done well.

"They have kept us in these competitions and in touching distance of everybody else in the league. That's a credit to the football club, that's the way we work.

"We never let anything get us down and we keep fighting right to the end and we've done that."




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Related to this story:

Newcastle v Chelsea (02 May 08 |  Premier League )
Grant praise for 'brave' Lampard (01 May 08 |  Europe )
Chelsea's dignity and bravery (01 May 08 |  Europe )
Chelsea 3-2 Liverpool (4-3) (30 Apr 08 |  Europe )
Champions League photos (30 Apr 08 |  Europe )
Fans await Russian visa details (01 May 08 |  Europe )
Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea (22 Apr 08 |  Europe )
Hiddink link to Chelsea dismissed (21 Apr 08 |  Chelsea )

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