Grant gutted by penalties defeat (SN)

Chelsea boss Avram Grant insisted his side had done enough to lift the Champions League trophy after losing out to Manchester United in a final decided on penalties here on Wednesday.

“It is very hard to lose on penalties. I don't know what to say, especially after – except for the first 30 minutes – we dominated the game,” said Grant.

“We hit the post, we hit the bar, we shot much more than them. Even in the penalties we came to the last one and it was in our hands – but we lost.”

Chelsea would have won if John Terry had not missed his side's fifth penalty and Grant admitted his captain had been left distraught.

“One penalty can make the difference between happiness and sadness.

“John did not say anything. He was very sad he cried but he is the main reason we are here.

“It has not been a normal season for us. There have been many difficulties, Manchester United were always ahead in the league. But he was always there for us as a captain and he took the responsibility to take the penalty.”

Grant refused to answer questions about his future, widely believed to be on the line after a season which has also seen Chelsea lose the League Cup final to Tottenham and finish second to United in the league.

“This is the last thing I am thinking about just now,” he said.