No Fratton Friction This Time for the Return of Grant to Redknapps Patch
Summary
PORTSMOUTH 1 CHELSEA 1 IT WAS all hugs, smiles and handshakes as the managers settled for a point each but Harry Redknapp admits Avram Grant did not receive such a warm welcome when he first arrived at Fratton Park. Redknapp almost stormed out of Portsmouth for a second time in his career when Grant was brought in over his head as technical director in 2006. He was suspicious of his motives but the pair looked like friends reunited on Saturday as Redknapp insisted Grants work since taking over from Jose Mourinho at Chelsea deserves greater recognition. Im delighted for what hes done because he is a good guy, said the Pompey manager. He just gets on with it in his own quiet way, hes not a personality like the previous manager. Maybe people expect it because its Chelsea and theyve got good players but he has done a terrific job. In public, Grant is secretive and hard to decode. Ask him about injured players and he says hes not a doctor. Ask about a players fitness and he mumbles: Youll have to ask him yourself. He flatly refuses to discuss other clubs or their players and is reluctant to talk about referees.
The only subjects he warms to are his days in charge of Israel and the many influential friends he has in world football. It is easy to see why Redknapp was uncomfortable with his presence until discovering he was destined for Chelsea. To be truthful, he was almost given to me, said Redknapp. He was put on me in a way and I wasnt happy with it at the time. When I was first told I nearly reacted in the way I normally do when people do that to me and thats to walk away. But I didnt. I met him, I liked him and he came here and it was great. I enjoyed being with him every day. He has a wealth of knowledge and I enjoyed talking about football. He has travelled the world watching Capello and Trapattoni work. We became great friends. I think it was always a case he was going to go to Chelsea in some capacity, that was always the plan.See the full content of this document
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No Fratton Friction This Time for the Return of Grant to Redknapps Patch
Chelsea supporters do not sing Grants name but time and results have softened t...
See the full content of this document