Thaindian News

London, Apr 13 (ANI): Portsmouth boss Avram Grant is being tipped to claim another giant FA Cup scalp by slaying his former club Chelsea in the final.

Grant stepped in to manage Chelsea when Jose Mourinho was sacked in September 2007. That season the Israeli guided them to second in the Premier League and Champions League runners-up before being axed.

Portsmouth players face star-studded old club of Grant in the May 15 season finale at Wembley after stunning Tottenham in their semi-final on Sunday.

The Blues have not lost to Pompey since December 1960 and after completing another double over them this season, The Sun reports.

Midfielder Michael Brown, who was excellent in the shock win over old club Spurs on Sunday, believes Grant could have one more shock up his sleeve next month.

Brown said: “If anybody knows how to beat Chelsea, it’s Avram. Nobody expected us to beat Tottenham, but we did and I am sure he’ll be looking to do it again against Chelsea.

“If we win, it will be something very special. Chelsea will be a tough, tough game - but with the magic of the FA Cup and a little help from Avram, you never know.”

When Grant joined the South Coast in November, he was given an impossible brief of trying to keep the team in the top flight amid the well-documented financial chaos and ownership rows.

That aim was dealt a fatal blow when the Premier League deducted the club nine points for going into administration.

“We got relegated on Saturday but it didn’t even sink in. Nobody mentioned it. In our minds, the league has been long gone, we were only worrying about the semi-final. This softens the blow as far as going down is concerned.

“Relegation was almost out of our control with the points deduction but we knew we could do something about the FA Cup,” Brown said. (ANI)