In DOUBLE we TRUST

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Nick: luca28
Oggetto: In DOUBLE we TRUST
Data: 5/5/2008 23.44.44
Visite: 204

REACTION: IN THE ENGLISH GAME, ALL IS POSSIBLE

So the 'cup finals' keep on coming. Avram Grant's final league game in his first Premier League season will be a championship decider.

At the same time Chelsea host Bolton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge, Man United will be at Wigan having made a short journey across Lancashire from Old Trafford. We need a better result than our title rivals and for Grant, at least, it will be a totally fair contest.

'I have been coming here for more than 30 years to visit English football,' the Chelsea manager said minutes after watching his team take three points at Newcastle, his experience ranging far beyond St James' Park.

'One thing I learned is that you never know what is going to happen until the end here, not like in other countries.

'Sometimes I know I am too positive and too optimistic but I believe in the tradition of English football. First we need to win; it is not easy to play in Wigan and I don't believe Steve Bruce will give the game to Man United.'

Whatever the outcome next Sunday, there is satisfaction in getting this far according to Grant.

'United did a fantastic season. Normally they would be champions well before now but this season they have a team that has given them a good battle. We need to wait and see, but especially in English football anything is possible.'

He found a supporter in those thoughts from his opposite number on Monday, Kevin Keegan.

'Normally there is one exceptional team a season but there are two exceptional teams this season,' was the Geordie local hero's view.

'Chelsea would be worthy champions. I don't think they will be but they are a better team than people give them credit for. They have a strong squad and that is why they can play 60-odd games a season while our players play 40-odd. Our players are well-paid when you compare that,' he smiled.

Keegan, never one to deny journalists a good quote, went on to predict that no team outside the current top four would break into the Champions League qualification positions for years to come.

'We are a million miles away,' he said of his own team's prospects. Reminded he had described the game just witnessed as the first true test of his in-form side, he retorted: 'We failed! If you take the result and the second-half performance.'

'If you look at the first-half opportunities created then we edged it but at half-time we said to the players you have only got a foothold in this game. Chelsea will be better than that in the second-half and of course they were, but unfortunately we didn't step up.'

'We didn't play good in the first-half,' agreed Grant. 'Last week we played a great week, not just because we won such important games in a few days but because we played excellent football and we won.

'I wanted it to continue but players are not robots. The first-half we didn't play good, but we changed the system and the second-half we dominated.'