[dpak3000]

GRANT SHUTS DOWN ON MEDIA AT GOODISON PARK[/size]

Chelsea manager Avram Grant produced a bizarre performance at the post-match press conference following the 1-0 victory over Everton tonight.

The Israeli, who has been under pressure from the media for many weeks, would only asnwer press questions with short responses.

It also follows the Premier League's decision to allow the match to be brought forward to Thursday for live TV coverage, forcing Chelsea to play twice in the space of 72 hours.

What follows is a full transcription from ESPNsoccernet's Richard Jolly...

A deserved win Avram?
Grant said: 'Yes.'

What particularly pleased you about the performance?
'I'm pleased.'

What in particular pleased you?
After an eight second delay: 'I don't know.'

• Click here to read Richard Jolly's view from the press box

Is it a relief to win here?
'Yes.'

You seem lost for words by the performance. Are you more satisfied with the performance or the victory?
'Both.'

You seem distracted. Do you have a problem?
'No problem.'

Is there an issue?
'No. I'm ok. I have nothing to say.'

Do you have a message for the Chelsea fans?
'You represent the Chelsea fans?'

They must believe you are still in the title race, do you have a message for them?
'No message.'

Does this result mean you are back in it now?
'I don't know.'

How many steps have you climbed to undertake this press conference?
'I don't know.'

You seem less voluble than usual. Is it because of Sky TV moving the game to a Thursday?
'Maybe it's because of you. I don't know. I am ok.'

You are saying that you don't know if you are still in the title race?
'No.' Is it easier to say nothing Avram?
'I don't what to answer. It is a good question. I don't know what to answer.'

Is this because of Sky?
'No. Sky is ok. I enjoy watching them.'

Is it a protest against newspapers?
'No. Why?'

Why else would you come in and refuse to answer our questions?
'I answer every question.'

You are two points behind Manchester United and you don't know if you are still in the title race?
'No.'

Have you told the players that you don't know if you are back in the title race?
'What I tell the players is something else. You want me to tell you what I say to the players?'

We just want you to answer the question really. Are you in the title race?
'I don't know.'

Would you not like to gain some positive publicity for the result rather than this bizarre silence?
'I'm sorry. You can write whatever you want and I can answer what I want.'

Do you feel under pressure to deliver a trophy. Is that the reason for the monosyllabic answers?
'No.'

Are you upset? Do you feel you have been misrepresented?
'Maybe I have said because it is a bad season.'

Did Michael Essien faint?
'He had some problems, but he is ok.'

Michael Ballack?
'Injured.'

What's his problem?
'Ask the doctor.'

He's not here Avram.
'Well call him then.'

Have you ever played the yes/no game Avram?
.....

Everton manager David Moyes was more obliging, despite seeing the chance of securing fourth spot ahead of Merseyside rivals Liverpool virtually extinguished.

'Chelsea have been difficult again, no arguments. We didn't play well enough to win the game,' he said. 'We kept at it, we gave ourselves a chance in that second half, but we lacked any quality and that made a difference.

'Our goalkeeper wasn't troubled much, but neither was their's. That was disappointing, but we have not been creating chances recently.

'We should have stopped the one-two in the box when they scored and I was hoping we could get through to half-time on level terms, but it wasn't to be.

'Maybe we could then have made things different but goals change games, Chelsea had a lot of the ball and although we tried with two up front, we couldn't achieve much.

'Chelsea made sure they did their job properly. We know we are a bit away from them, but there has been a lot of spending put into these four teams above us.

'I don't like talking about our injuries, and we were missing creative players. But we have played them this season will all our top players and still lost.

'I still believe that Manchester United will win the Premier League, if Chelsea had beaten Wigan on Monday it might well be a bit different, but I think it is over, United are still favourites.'

maybe Grant is still on them shroooooms....

[USAManUtd13]

As strange as this is I can somewhat understand it. Avram Grant has made some very strange managerial decisions, but he has brought Chelsea back into the title race from a point where many thought they were out of it. He also has guided them to the semi-finals of the CL. This is fairly successful and yet he is constantly berated by Chelsea fans and the media (oh, and some players). I mean, really, a man can only take so much. The fans want "beautiful" football and are crying for Mourinho back. But, Mourinho never produced football that was any more beautiful than what Grant has produced, not really; and he's getting results out of the squad.

All that said, I can't wait for the boos that will be echoing through the streets of Chelsea after United put their title hopes to bed.

[GocartMozart]

for that to happen united need to win saturday and to win against west ham. I also get where he's coming from, but what's the point of interviewing at all then. He will now be the but of jokes if he wasn't already.

I particularly enjoyed the journalists choice of words..."undertake"...LOL

Even better is the last quesiton: Have you ever played the yes/no game Avram?

LOL too funny. This will go down as the best interview since Keegan's blow up...class

[TeKnIcIaN]

I don't think Grant has done anything for Chelski. I still beleive that the team is the one that Mourinho built and Avram has been riding the coattails of that for the entirety of the season. If it wasn't for Jose's departure, I think we would be in a much tighter race for the title right now.

The dude is a boob. I think he knows that the only hope he has to keep his job would be to win the Champions League - or the EPL title, but that's looking rather unlikely right now.

[funkdoctorspock]

I'm wondering how much this has to do with Grant trying to protect his players and continue having the focus of the media squarely on him.

One of Mourinho's great strengths was doing this.

Poor Grant. Can't get anything right. Fans loathe him, players aren't too keen of him and his tactical work has been "stellar".