Grant thriving on the pressure March 11 2008
Avram Grant is relishing the pressure that comes with guiding Chelsea towards success - even if it means upsetting members of his squad.
The Blues face Olympiacos on Wednesday night at Stamford Bridge, and Grant again has to find the successful formula as his club seek a place in the last eight of the UEFA Champions League.
Against Tottenham in the Carling Cup final it was Michael Ballack and Joe Cole who missed out, while Didier Drogba was rested for the 4-0 Premier League rout of West Ham at the weekend.
It is this competition for places that Grant feels will keep the west London giants in the hunt for three trophies this season.
"Any player that is in the squad expects to play," he said. "I don't want to be with a squad where players don't want to play. We are a big squad with good players.
"Only 11 can play - I checked, to play with more, but they don't allow it," the Israeli quipped. "Any formation or 11 I pick, there will be big players on the bench.
"The bench is very important for us, and also the players not in the squad. This is life in a big club."
Keeping the squad happy is a problem Grant is mastering.
"Life in football today is a lot of pressure," he added. "I think it is good - because when you are in a big club it pushes you always to achieve the best things.
"I think it is good pressure. I like it, personally."
However, Grant was lost for words to describe what failure against Olympiacos would mean - with the Greek champions earning a goalless draw in the first leg of the last-16 clash a fortnight ago.
"If we will not qualify ..... I don't know the word, I think you know it better than me."