CHELSEA MANAGER TIGHT-LIPPED OVER CARLING CUP TEAM SELECTION
Chelsea manager Avram Grant is keeping John Terry and Frank Lampard in the dark over their roles in Sunday's Carling Cup Final against Tottenham at Wembley. Grant has a full squad to choose from and will not be drawn on whether club captain Terry or influential midfielder Lampard, both now fit after injuries, will start.
Lampard scored his 100th goal for the club in last weekend's FA Cup fifth round tie against Huddersfield.
But neither he nor Terry featured in their goalless midweek Champions League draw against Olympiakos.
Grant, speaking at his pre-match press conference said: "We have training [on Saturday] and then I will tell the players the team. I will tell the players before the media.
"We need big players and it is never an easy decision who to select. I don't believe rotation is the way, but sometimes you prefer other players.
"It's not an easy decision because Terry is a great captain, even when he is not playing. He is also a great defender but I think the other two did a great job until now. "Alex and [Ricardo] Carvalho were very good on Tuesday, and before his injury John Terry was excellent. This is a very hard decision.
"But this is my job. I need to take these decisions and I will take them. Players are not computers. You need to respect them, but need to take decisions that are good for the club.
"When you have big players in a team like Chelsea it is always not an easy decision, it was not easy on Tuesday."
Grant added: "It was not a good situation when Terry and Lampard were out injured. But this is my life.
"I like it and I can't do without the pressure. It will be the same in the next three months."
Chelsea manager Avram Grant is keeping John Terry and Frank Lampard in the dark over their roles in Sunday's Carling Cup Final against Tottenham at Wembley. Grant has a full squad to choose from and will not be drawn on whether club captain Terry or influential midfielder Lampard, both now fit after injuries, will start.
Lampard scored his 100th goal for the club in last weekend's FA Cup fifth round tie against Huddersfield.
But neither he nor Terry featured in their goalless midweek Champions League draw against Olympiakos.
Grant, speaking at his pre-match press conference said: "We have training [on Saturday] and then I will tell the players the team. I will tell the players before the media.
"We need big players and it is never an easy decision who to select. I don't believe rotation is the way, but sometimes you prefer other players.
"It's not an easy decision because Terry is a great captain, even when he is not playing. He is also a great defender but I think the other two did a great job until now. "Alex and [Ricardo] Carvalho were very good on Tuesday, and before his injury John Terry was excellent. This is a very hard decision.
"But this is my job. I need to take these decisions and I will take them. Players are not computers. You need to respect them, but need to take decisions that are good for the club.
"When you have big players in a team like Chelsea it is always not an easy decision, it was not easy on Tuesday."
Grant added: "It was not a good situation when Terry and Lampard were out injured. But this is my life.
"I like it and I can't do without the pressure. It will be the same in the next three months."
Labels: Avram Grant, Carling Cup, Chelsea, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Tottenham
