Avram Grant hits out at Chelsea critics and insists: 'I do know what I'm doing'

The 52-year-old Israeli coach was abused by a section of the Chelsea fans earlier this season and taunted with cries of 'You don't know what you're doing' when they disagreed with his substitutions in big games.

But victories over Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United were achieved with tactical switches and the addition of other players at the right time and Grant will not be afraid to do the same against United in next week's Champions League final in Moscow.

"First of all I was happy with how we started those games but in all of them something happened and we needed to make a change - I think we did it well," Grant said.

"Against Arsenal we brought on Nicolas Anelka and Juliano Belletti and changed the system. We scored two goals to win the game and could have scored more.

"Then at Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final, we brought on Salomon Kalou and Anelka and got back into the game. It was Kalou who crossed for the own goal while Anelka pressed John Arne Riise.

"With United, we brought on Anelka, [Andriy] Shevchenko and then [Claude] Makelele at the right time after they scored from our mistake. We finished the game with three strikers and scored a late goal to win it.

"And it was the same sort of game again for the second leg with Liverpool. We were much stronger but then they scored and we had to make changes.

"Everybody thought they would be fresher because we had just had a big game against United but we brought on Florent Malouda and Anelka to change the system and we deserved the win.

"In big games, changing the players or the system at the right time is one of the best ways to win the game when you know your opponents so well."

The Chelsea coach was previously criticised for not winning against the big teams but he put that bogey to bed in emphatic style during the last two months of the season.

"One of the most pleasing things for me this season is that we came to the big games and we won playing good football," Grant said.

"To come to these games with all the physical and mental pressure and show quality like we did at the right moment, made me very happy.

"I was not just pleased that we won but because nobody doubted that we were the better team in all those games."

During the semi-final against Liverpool the opposition fans taunted their rivals over a lack of history, but Grant insists there is no point in talking about history before you make it.

Grant added: "Before the semi-final second leg I said to the players: 'We can talk about history or we can create history'.

"I am very happy we have reached the final for the first time. To make history is an unbelievable feeling. Now we must go on and win it."