Portsmouth manager Avram Grant insists his side didn’t deserve to end their turbulent season with a 1-0 defeat against Chelsea in Saturday’s FA Cup final.
Grant’s team were heavy underdogs heading into the Wembley clash with the Premier League champions, but they almost made a mockery of the formbook in a dramatic encounter.
Pompey, relegated from the top-flight after going into administration with debts of over 130 million pounds, rode their luck in the first half as Chelsea hit the woodwork five times.
But they had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 55th minute when Ivory Coast forward Aruna Dindane was tripped in the penalty area by Juliano Belletti.
Kevin-Prince Boateng stepped up to take the spot-kick but his shot, driven straight down the middle, struck Petr Cech’s legs and rebounded to safety.
Just four mintues later, Didier Drogba curled home the free-kick that won the double for Carlo Ancelotti’s side and left former Chelsea boss Grant cursing his luck.
“It was not a fair result, we deserved more,” Grant said. “We had a penalty at the right time and other good chances. We had a great chance in the first half.
“I must say it is a sad and very proud day. We played against a team top of the league and we forced them to waste time in the last 10 minutes.
“Chelsea are a good team but I think everyone in Portsmouth can be proud. We played without many injured players but we stopped them playing and passed the ball well.
“We wanted to catch them on the counter-attack. I am very proud of this team and how we fought against a team who have scored seven and eight goals this season against other teams.
“We could have won. Next time I will take the penalty!”
Grant, who came within a missed John Terry penalty of winning the Champions league when he was in charge of Chelsea, refused to blame Boateng for his penalty blunder and instead showered praise on his players.
“John Terry missed a penalty in the Champions League final and went on. Everybody is sad. Unfortunately it happened to Boateng,” said Grant, who also lost the 2008 League Cup final with Chelsea.
“Win as a team, lose as a team. It happens even to the best. Unfortunately it’s happened to me twice. What can you do?
“It was a very difficult season but it was a season I will not forget. I have won many games and been to finals but this was unbelievable.
“We always fought and had a penalty to win the game against the best team in the league. This is football.”
Grant has been strongly linked with the vacant manager’s job at West Ham, with reports claiming he could take charge at Upton Park by next week, but the Israeli refused to be drawn on his future.
Pompey are still searching for a new owner and face a close-season fire-sale of their best players, leaving Grant to make an appeal for a buyer to come forward.
“That (his future) is the last thing on my mind. The future of the club is more important,” he said.
“If anyone ever doubted this was a club worth buying they would have seen what it is about today. The fans were unbelievable, they won the final by a long way.”
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