Chelsea manager Avram Grant insists his side have exceeded expectations this season and demands his team be respected for their efforts...
When Jose Mourinho departed in September, Chelsea were staring down the barrel of disaster. There were cries of exodus, the end of an era and the downfall of the Blues. However, eight months on, Avram Grant is going strong, and has his side on the cusp of an unprecedented double.
Jose Mourinho did not manage Champions League glory with the Blues - he didn't make it to a final, either - Grant is there, and has only Manchester United in his way.
The same applies in the league. Granted, this is a competition the Special One won back-to-back - emphatically so, at that - but Avram Grant is again just one game away from the trophy, though he is relying on Manchester United slipping up in their final fixture as well.
Grant has been keen to point out such things, and is again full of praise for his team, as they head into two of the most vital games in the club's history in the coming weeks.
"From day one our target was to be in the Champions League final and to improve our game," began the Chelsea boss.
"We've done more than I even expected, so we want to believe the season will end well and we will fight to the last minute.
"United have had a fantastic season. They've been champions many times before but this year we have given them a good battle and it is not finished yet.
"Even if they win the title on goal difference you must give my team respect.
"For more than 30 years I've visited English football, at least five times a year since I was a boy.
"Even when I didn't have much money I came here. One thing I like is that you play football until the end, not like other countries.
"Sometimes I'm too positive and too optimistic, but I believe in the traditions of English football.
"We need to win first and it's not easy for them to play at Wigan.
"I don't believe that Bruce will give the game to Manchester United.
"Maybe we can win 18-0 on Sunday, if we play against a team that will let us to. I don't think so, though."
Wigan Athletic stand in Manchester United's way, and they are coming off a sensational 2-0 victory at Aston Villa. Managed by former United skipper Steve Bruce, conspiracies of match-throwing and under-strength line-ups have been rife, but most expect a fair encounter at the JJB Stadium, Grant included.
He told Sky Sports 1: "They are on a great run at the minute. They came to the Bridge and put in a very good performance and since then, they have picked up.
"Wigan will do the Premier League justice and they will go out there wanting to beat Manchester United.
"Hopefully they will do. We have worked out socks off all year, so it will be disappointing if they don't.
"We saw the likes of many teams yesterday putting out full-strength teams and really going for it against some teams who have got nothing to go for.
"Wigan are safe now - hopefully, with a great manager like Steve Bruce, they are going to go for it.
"We have still got a tough game at home to Bolton, but if we pick up the three points, as we did today, we have got a very good chance."
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