Weekend Football18-20 April 2008
by Jerrad Peters
He is unlikely to be reclined in a comfy, leather armchair, disclosing his most private emotions, this weekend. But given Avram Grant’s bizarre behavior after his Chelsea squad defeated Everton in a late-week Premier League fixture, a little psychoanalysis would do no harm. It may even be necessary.
In barely five minutes of questioning at Thursday’s post-match press conference, the Blues boss was sour, broody, and provided a sequence of thoughtless, one-word answers to the baffled congregation of reporters. In a way, it was reminiscent of Jose Mourinho’s infamous egg analogy which preceded his sacking by mere days. And although the axe will only fall on Grant at the conclusion of the current season, he will surely suffer the same fate which befell his predecessor. It’s a matter of time. And, if his tart remarks are any indication, he probably knows it.
Upon taking a seat next to the club’s press officer – who later adjourned the press conference out of embarrassment – Grant was provided an innocent enough question to kick things off.
Q: “You deserved the win, Avram?”
Grant: “Yes.”
Q: “What particularly pleased you about the performance?”
Grant: “I’m pleased.”
Q: “What, in particular, pleased you?”
Eight seconds of silence followed before the manager replied, “I don’t know.” Like a shark sensing blood in the water, the reporter attacked.
Q: “You seem lost for words by the performance. Are you more satisfied with the performance or the victory?”
Grant: “Both.”
Q: “You seem distracted. Do you have a problem?”
Grant: “No problem.”
Q: “Is there an issue?”
Grant: “No. I’m ok. I have nothing to say.”
A minute or so of similar, pointless back-and-forths followed before Grant dug himself the deepest hole of all.
Q: “Does the result mean you are back in it now?”
Grant: “I don’t know.”
Q: “You are saying that you don’t know if you are still in the title race?”
Grant: “No.”
At this point, the reporter asked why the manager was not cooperating.
Q: “You seem less voluble than usual. Is it because of SkyTV moving the game to a Thursday?”
Grant: “Maybe it’s because of you. I don’t know. I am ok.”
Q: “Is it a protest against newspapers?”
Grant: “No. Why?”
Q: “Why else would you come in a refuse to answer our questions?”
Grant: “I answer every question.”
Q: “We just want you to answer the question, really. Are you in the title race now?”
Grant: “I don’t know.”
Finally, the reporter invoked the Chelsea supporters in a futile attempt to get some kind of reaction from the Israeli.
Q: “Would you not like to gain some positive publicity for the result rather than this bizarre silence?”
Grant: “I’m sorry. You can write whatever you want and I can answer what I want.”
Moments later, the Chelsea press officer put the meeting out of its misery, stating, “This is going nowhere. Let’s end it.”
Grant’s motivation for the episode remains unclear. Most likely, he is perturbed by the persistent rumors that his tenure at the club is coming to an end – speculation which has been fuelled, in large part, by the press. Neither Roman Abramovich nor Peter Kenyon has had much to say on the issue.
Two points adrift of Manchester United in the Premier League and about to battle Liverpool in a Champions’ League semifinal, Grant’s displeasure at his representation in the media is understandable. Result for result, his performance at the club is on par with Mourinho’s first season at Stamford Bridge. And the latter, for what it’s worth, did not have to endure lengthy injuries to each of Peter Cech, John Terry, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, and Joe Cole. Nor did he lose his top striker to the African Nations Cup for over a month.
Given the circumstances, Grant should be more than confident to stand on his record. That said, Chelsea Football Club expects its managers to fit a certain mould; and the current boss clearly does not. Loathed by the fans and mocked by the press, he looks a pitiful sight as he plays out the string. Of course, Chelsea could still win the double. Not that it would change anything.
PSV Einhoven’s quest for a fourth consecutive title will come down to the final weekend of the domestic season for a second year in a row. Three points clear of Ajax in the Eredivisie, PSV require just a single point against Vitesse Arnhem on Sunday in order to win the league.
Ajax, after giving themselves a shot at a first championship since 2004 by beating Groningen 2-1 on Wednesday, have 66-points from 33-matches and will be hoping that a win at home to Heracles will correspond with a PSV loss. The Amsterdam giants hold the crucial goal-differential advantage – criteria which would come into play if the two sides finished the schedule on 69-points apiece.
The tight race is familiar territory for Dutch football. Last season, PSV vaulted from third-place to a third title on the bounce after AZ Alkmaar lost at Excelsior on the final Sunday. And while PSV’s 75-points left them in a dead heat with Ajax, the defending champions claimed the trophy by virtue of a goal-differential of one.
But while the battle for the title is a two-horse race, spots in the Champions’ League, UEFA Cup, and relegation zone remain up for grabs. After a fixture-list of 34-games, 16 of the 18 Eridivisie clubs contest a play-off competition of one kind or another.
For example, the sides ranked two through five will participate in a mini-tournament to determine the country’s second Champions’ League berth. Third-ranked NAC Breda are already guaranteed a play-off seeding; but each of Twente, Heerenveen, and Feyenoord will enter their final match of the campaign with a realistic opportunity for qualification as well.
Twente, on 59-points, are the fourth-place team and will host 15th-place Willen II Tulburg. Heerenveen, meanwhile, will face Excelsior; and sixth-place Feyenoord will entertain Roda at De Kuip and hope for upsets elsewhere.
Have a question about football? Email your query to jerradpeters@gmail.com.
Jerrad Peters is a football journalist based in Winnipeg, Canada. His weekly column for the Winnipeg Free Press is the largest of its kind in the country. A regular contributor to Soccer 365 and ESPN Soccernet, his work has also appeared on TheMirror.co.uk, Canadian-soccer.com, Footy247.co.uk, Foot2ball.com, and Squadinfo.com.
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