Grant plans spending spree
16 Apr 2008 - 16:13:25
Under-pressure Chelsea manager Avram Grant expects to be in charge of the team next season and insists he will be handed more money to strengthen his squad in the summer.
The Blues were booed off the pitch by the Stamford Bridge faithful after Monday's dismal 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic amid suggestions that Grant's services would be dispensed with before the start of next season.
However, the Israeli says billionaire owner Roman Abramovich has promised him a massive transfer kitty as he continues his attempt to make the Blues a more attractive team.
"We know the vision of the club and the money won't be a problem if we find good players to bring here," Grant said. "So you could say £80million or £100million, although we don't have the advantage that we had two or three years ago.
"We know that Manchester United will spend a lot of money and Arsenal will buy a few players as well as Liverpool. We will do the same. We want to improve.
"We feel pressure all the time but it is a good pressure - I don't want to live without this pressure. We are still fighting and will continue fighting even if the chances have been against us from day one.
"If the club is not happy with me tomorrow or ten years from now it is okay. It is a good relationship and that is what it needs to be. I need to do my job for Chelsea and that is what is important.
"Nobody told me I had to win a trophy this season but I want to win one. Most of the fans respect what we did for them and we respect what they did for us.
"We took a lot of points with so many injured players and with so many problems. But there was a good spirit shown by the team. The fans are like us, sometimes we are disappointed also. But most of the time we did a good job.
"I was at the game against Rosenborg earlier this season and heard the booing at half-time - I had never heard that before. But most of the time the fans are behind us. You cannot win every game and I think they know it."
