Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., September 07, 2008 Elul 7, 5768 | | Israel Time: 10:40 (EST+7)
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Soccer / Champions League / The new Grant: Less Israeli, more European, but will it do?
By Shlomi Barzel

At 8 P.M. Moscow time, Chelsea's Israeli coach, Avram Grant, made his entry into the lobby of the hotel where his team was staying ahead of its Wednesday match against Manchester United in the Champions League final. He was the last of Chelsea's entourage to enter, trailing behind the likes of John Terry and Frank Lampard.

Wearing a smart suit and carrying a briefcase, he resembled his European players far more than his former Israeli colleagues. He waltzed into the hotel as though he had never coached Hapoel Petah Tikva. He called out to Michael Ballack (or simply Michael, as Grant addressed him), then chatted with Andriy Shevchenko. Finally, he gave autographs and shook hands with fans.
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The players went up to their rooms quickly, but Grant remained in the lobby and made the most of his time. He is infinitely patient. Not even Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will break him. But never mind, let's not talk about that.

If this city does not realize by tomorrow morning that it is hosting the Champions League final, somebody is likely to become upset. Very few red or blue shirts could be spotted on the streets yesterday, and the soccer festival the Russians promised was nowhere to be seen. The most depressing sight was that of locals wearing scarves belonging to both teams, as though the Russians had suddenly become pacifists who support both sides equally.

Such was the scarcity of soccer fans in the city that the Sky sports reporters had to spend a day looking for people to interview ahead of the match. They finally found a group of 50 fans just moments before their deadline. Even then, the cameraman had to go for a close shot to hide the dearth of supporters in the background.

Luckily for Sky, their team scored a perfect shot of Grant as he got out of the Chelsea bus outside the Ritz: The Israeli coach stood right under a huge banner of Dutch manager Guus Hiddink, whose name has regularly been raised as a possible replacement. Tomorrow's match may decide whether Hiddink or another candidate does replace Grant - if his fate hasn't been decided already.
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