Grant's all smiles after United slip

The chips were down when Chelsea were beaten 2-1 by Fenerbahce last Wednesday. Thanks to Manchester United, they could yet be cashing them in.

Three points off the Barclays Premier League leaders and 90 minutes away from a Champions League semi-final against Arsenal or Liverpool. Suddenly, all is well with the world. Little wonder he could barely disguise his delight.

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'I don't really want to speak about the League,' said the Chelsea manager, but no one present at Stamford Bridge seriously believed he was about to overlook United's curious 2-2 draw at Middlesbrough on Sunday.

'But there is no secret to say that everyone at Chelsea is happy with the situation in the League. We are now three points behind United and hope for better.'

Take that, Fergie. This was straight out of the Manchester United manager's manual of mind games, phoney wars and dirty tricks. Maybe he is getting the hang of this management lark. Maybe.

Against the odds, the twin targets remain the same. Five games to go in the Premier League and the prospect of a fourth Champions League semi-final in five years if they beat Fenerbahce on Tuesday.

They fooled everyone in Turkey last Wednesday with a chilling first-half performance. This was Chelsea at their best. Certainly the best they have been under Grant.

'We lost the game even though we were much better than Fenerbahce,' said the Chelsea manager.

'The players want to be in the semi-final, but it will not be an easy game. I always say that the players will learn and we need to dominate. We have thought a lot about last Wednesday's game, but no two games are the same.'

Just as well. Michael Ballack was brilliant in the opening half, underlining his A-star status with a peerless performance. Then came the second 45 minutes when Chelsea lost their heads. Tut, tut!

Ballack, who should have secured Chelsea's place in the semi-final with a glorious chance at the start of the second half, was on the missing list. So, too, was Didier Drogba. And Ricardo Carvalho. Wakey, wakey.

Chelsea's players did not know much about Colin Kazim-Richards, who sprang off the substitutes' bench to score Fenerbahce's equaliser, and the threat of Deivid before he sent a 30-yard winner beyond Carlo Cudicini.

There can be no identity crisis at Stamford Bridge and Grant's meticulous planning extended to a team meeting on Monday, outlining his expectations — notably, winning the Premier League and the Champions League — and reminding his players of theirs (ditto).

Speaking on behalf of the players, Ballack said: 'We lost the Carling Cup against Tottenham and the FA Cup against Barnsley because we didn't play well when it mattered. We got to a final and we shouldn't have lost it.

'That final was our fault and it wasn't that Tottenham played fantastic football. It was the same against Barnsley and against Fenerbahce, it should not happen again. When we play our best football, we can win every competition. We didn't do that in the Carling Cup and the FA Cup, but it's our motivation against Fenerbahce.

'We are very focused on the Champions League. For now, that is all that counts.'

Defeat is unthinkable for Grant, but he reluctantly accepts he will only ever be one game away from a crisis.

Or maybe not. Not if they recover from that defeat in Istanbul to power their way towards the semifinal and a mouth-watering two-legged tie against one of the Established Order later this month.

They have the talent but the Turkish champions are not a soft touch. Fenerbahce are an emerging team from an emerging nation and they were talking tough on Monday.

Zico, with 88 caps, could be dining out every night in Rio on the moment Pele described him as the best player in the world. Instead, he is passing on his creative genius to Turkey's finest team. His sides attack with with verve and style. They carry Zico's stamp, 26 years on from his magical contribution to the 1982 World Cup.

Fenerbahce have this season beaten Inter, CSKA Moscow, Anderlecht and PSV Eindhoven, all champions in their respective countries, and have seen off Sevilla on penalties in the second round.

'We have come to attack and to play offensive football,' said Brazilian Zico. 'We have come a long way in the competition and we have nothing to fear. We've good players.'

One of them is striker Mateja Kezman but his place in the team is in jeopardy. Either side of the win over Chelsea, the motor-mouth wannabe monk has thrown a hissy fit in league games and stormed out of the stadium without waiting for his team-mates.

If he repeats that trick on Tuesday, it really will be good news for Grant.