SOCCER/Newcastle Utd v Chelsea:AVRAM GRANT'S transformation from figure of fun to dressingroom inspiration continued last night as Petr Cech suggested the Israeli has succeeded in turning Chelsea into a better team than that led by the Special One, Jose Mourinho.
Cech and his team-mates will attempt to draw level again with Manchester United at the top of the Premier League this afternoon by triumphing at Newcastle, an awkward fixture that Chelsea effectively must win to retain hope of claiming the title on the season's final afternoon.
Yet, Chelsea having already secured progress to their first Champions League final, there is rare momentum behind this team and Grant's reputation is soaring.
"I can see the same quality in this team," said Cech when asked to compare the current side with Mourinho's two-time title-winning team. "We're handling the pressure and winning the big games. I would say that the team is at least at the same level and maybe a bit better (than under the previous manager).
"This has been a tough season. We had to start from behind United and Arsenal all season and now we've taken it to the end. But we can't afford a slip-up. Newcastle is now another cup final for us. We can't do anything except win the game and we know that.
"The good thing is that, after the week we've had, we're going there in a positive mood. We will do all we can to keep the dream of winning the Premier League alive.
"If we can win, then we will keep the pressure on United to the last game and then anything can still happen."
United travel to Wigan on Sunday's final afternoon, as Chelsea host Bolton, with Grant admitting it has taken him time to make his mark at Stamford Bridge.
"It's not a one-way process between a manager and his players," he said. "They may have had doubts about me but I had doubts about some of them as well. I was also patient and resolved not to make an opinion on them after one month. I wanted to check on them over a long time, to monitor their behaviour and see what they had to offer. But you can see on the pitch they give everything for the club.
"I've done many things differently. I've changed the staff, the training, tactics, the players' way of behaving and many other things. Football is simpler than people think. I believe in simple methods but quality methods. You check the players and they see what you can do."
Chelsea's owner, Roman Abramovich, has been absent from Stamford Bridge in recent weeks as his team have blazed a trail, yet Grant's position appears stronger than it has ever been.
Meanwhile, Ryan Giggs will feel a sense of pride at becoming a Manchester United record holder at Wigan next week - but not as deep as the one that would accompany a 10th Premier League winners' medal.
A newly unearthed piece of evidence has confirmed Bobby Charlton made 758 appearances for the Old Trafford outfit, one fewer than previously believed.
It meant Giggs's late cameo against West Ham at Old Trafford on Saturday, which United won 4-1 to move three points clear of Chelsea, left the Welshman one adrift of Charlton.
Barring injury, the 34-year-old will equal Charlton's record at the JJB Stadium on Sunday, then break it at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium on May 21st, when Alex Ferguson's side tackle Chelsea in the Champions League final.
Yet when Giggs is asked what means more, the record or the trophies, the answer is unequivocal.
"It would be nice to be the most decorated United player ever," he said. "I am not being blase about it or not saying it wouldn't be a great achievement but I have 30 or 40 years to think about the personal stuff. At the moment I am just concentrating on trying to win trophies."
