Grant: We deserved victory
Avram Grant says Chelsea deserved to beat Liverpool in Carling Cup
Thursday, 20, Dec 2007 01:05
Chelsea manager Avram Grant claims his side deserved their 2-0 win over rivals Liverpool in the Carling Cup semi-final last night.
The Israeli watched as Frank Lampard gave the Blues a second-half advantage when his shot deflected off Jamie Carragher and looped over Reds stand-in goalkeeper Charles Itandje.
Andriy Shevchenko ensured Chelsea advanced to the semi-finals when he netted in injury time and Peter Crouch was sent off for Liverpool for a rash challenge on John Obi Mikel.
But despite having the advantage of playing against ten men for the last half an hour of the game, Grant said his side had been dominant throughout and were well worth the victory.
"Before the red card we were 1-0 up and we dominated the game so I think we deserved the win," Grant told Sky Sports.
"Although after the incident it was easier for us."
Grant described Crouch's challenge on Mikel as "a bad one" and said he deserved the red card, which referee Martin Atkinson had little hesitation in producing.
Chelsea's victory earns them a semi-final berth as they look to defend the trophy they won last season, when they beat Arsenal 2-1 in a bad-tempered final in Cardiff.
The Blues face Everton over two legs for a place in the Wembley showpiece, while north London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham will contest the other semi-final in a repeat of last season's tie.