I'm not Abramovich's puppet: Grant

Avram Grant insists he is not Roman Abramovich's stooge and did not play a role in Jose Mourinho's dramatic departure from Chelsea.

Avram Grant insists he is not Roman Abramovich's stooge and did not play a role in Jose Mourinho's dramatic departure from Chelsea.

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Grant is convinced Abramovich will allow him to manage the London club without interference, even though Mourinho's exit was prompted by the Chelsea owner's overbearing influence.

The Israeli is a close friend of Abramovich and his arrival at Stamford Bridge in the close-season as director of football was perceived as the Russian's unsubtle bid to have more say in the team.

Abramovich had been at loggerheads with Mourinho since January but Grant says his own relationship with the billionaire was not the reason why he was given the job.

Grant, a former coach of the Israel national team, is adamant he did not stab Mourinho in the back to further his own career.

"It is not Roman's ambition to pick the team," Grant said. "I can tell you I will pick the team for good and for bad.

"Roman has many friends in football and he didn't appoint any of them. I think it is a normal relationship with Roman between two people who share something.

"As you know any owner can choose the coach. If I was not here and the owner called me in Thailand he can say come.