Chelsea / Grant has Cole backing

Joe Cole maintains Avram Grant is the right man to drive Chelsea on towards both European and domestic glory.



The Israeli coach - who took over from fans' favourite Jose Mourinho in September last year - ensured that his side pressed Manchester United to the last match in the race for the Barclays Premier League title and also guided the West London club into their first Champions League final.

Grant is hopeful such achievements will allow him to continue in the job and Cole believes he should ignore any criticism that comes his way.

"It is part and parcel of being a manager or a footballer - there is always someone ready to have a pop at you," said Cole.

"I don't pay any attention to what those people think of me, and I am sure Avram doesn't either. He has got broad shoulders."

biggest duffer

Cole, 26, continued: "There are people who will say if you win one game you are a God, and if you lose one game then you are the biggest duffer to have ever played football.

"If you look back at it, with all that has happened here, you have to say the club is going in the right direction.

"But we are not too interested in plaudits - you want trophies.

"We fought United all the way for the title and we are disappointed not to have won, but credit has to go to the whole squad and everyone around the place who have kept it going, shown real steel and determination.

"If we were to win in Moscow, then we would be going full speed ahead again.

"The Champions League final is the top of the mountain, the benchmark for any club. To win it is a massive achievement."

Chelsea / Ballack: I am more ruthless

Michael Ballack believes his move to Chelsea has turned him into a more ruthless player.



The Germany captain joined the club on a free transfer from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2006 but failed to settle in his first season at Stamford Bridge.

The midfielder is now playing some of his best football for the Blues as they prepare for their Champions League final against Manchester United in Moscow next week.

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But the experienced 31-year-old admits he's been forced to alter his playing style in order to save him from becoming anonymous in a team of superstars.

"Playing for Chelsea I have to be more ruthless than in the German national team where I've managed to earn myself a different status over the years," Ballack said.

high water

"But it also means that I'm expected to make decisions on the pitch - it's different at Chelsea.

"We have six captains from national teams on our side - John Terry for England, Didier Drogba for the Ivory Coast, Andriy Shevchenko for the Ukraine, Petr Cech for the Czech Republic, Claudio Pizarro for Peru and me for Germany, as well as quite a few top international players.

"It goes without saying that everyone is forced to show some restraint so as not to jeopardise our success. But you have to face the challenge.

"You have to make people sit up and take notice of you otherwise you just go under in a team like this, you're just devoured by the machine. And so I've become more ruthless.

"But I wanted to play with all these stars - come hell or high water. Just to be able to prove that I could meet the challenge. It was well worth the battle for me.

"And now I can say, whatever happens, I've accomplished something. At the same time, I was never worried that I wouldn't succeed."