I got Chelsea out of a mess, claims Grant as he desperately defends his faltering Chelsea reign

Speaking after Mourinho's claim that he had outperformed Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger during his time at Stamford Bridge, Grant claimed he is at Chelsea for the long haul and has already started planning his summer recruitment drive.

Chelsea face a vital trip to Everton tonight and Grant refused to let Monday's damaging draw at home to Wigan dent his confidence. 'Realistically we did not have a chance from day one I was here,' he said.

'There was always a team above us with more points. Compared to when I received the club, the situation is good.

'The pressure was that we came from nowhere to fight for the championship. When I received the team I don't think anyone could have seen us in the position we were in before the game against Wigan and we are in still. We are still fighting.

'If Manchester United take the title I will be the first to congratulate them, but at the moment I will not give up. We believe, even if the chance is not like before.'

Chelsea must take three points at Goodison if they are to have any hope of catching United. They also must overcome Liverpool over two legs in the semi-final of the Champions League if Grant is to realise owner Roman Abramovich's dream of a place in the Moscow final next month.

In truth, reaching the final of Europe's elite competition, although a magnificent achievement, would represent the only example of Grant outstripping his predecessor Mourinho.

Unlike the Portuguese coach, Grant has failed to lead Chelsea to either domestic cup, losing to Tottenham in the Carling Cup Final and Barnsley in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Despite bemoaning the League situation he inherited, Chelsea remain five points off top spot, just as they were when Mourinho left in September.

However, Grant is adamant he has not been told he must win the title or the Champions League to keep his job.

'Nobody has told me I have to deliver a trophy. But I want to more than anyone else,' he said.

'We have an important game at Everton and then five days to think about the Champions League, which is the main target. We're in a good position and the players are very focused. They want to win, especially after losing three times in the semi-finals.'

Grant appears convinced he will be at Chelsea next season, although the cacophony of boos that greeted the draw with Wigan suggested the majority of fans feel his time is up.

He said: 'We have done a great job and anyone reasonable will tell you the same. One hundred per cent of people never think the same, especially in football.

'I respect the fans, because they're there before any manager and after any manager. I respect the last fan sitting in the last row, but I know as well in this room that 20 people do not think the same.'

Grant has started compiling a list of transfer targets with Abramovich and director of football Frank Arnesen — even considering moves for AC Milan's Kaka or Barcelona's Leo Messi.

Hamburg midfielder Rafael van der Vaart, who yesterday urged Chelsea to follow up their £20million interest in him, is another in the frame.

Heading out is Tal Ben Haim after claiming he would never have joined Chelsea had he known Grant was to replace Mourinho.

Didier Drogba has also made it plain he sees his future elsewhere. But a more immediate problem for Grant is Drogba's likely absence tonight.

The striker still has the knee niggle which sidelined him on Monday.

Frank Lampard has also not trained after missing the Wigan game to be at the bedside of his sick mother Pat and is unlikely to feature at Goodison.

Everton could drop 19-goal forward Yakubu , whose career took off under Grant at Maccabi Haifa six years ago, with David Moyes considering a start for teenager Victor Anichebe.

Moyes said: 'Yak's gone off the boil a little bit, but he has scored his goals and you sometimes have to be patient with goalscorers when they have periods when they don't score.

'His last couple of games have seen a bit of a dip in form. He is on 19 goals, so when he gets that 20th one it might be much easier and it wouldn't half be nice if he got it against Chelsea.'

Chelsea will play two matches in Russia at the start of August when Lokomotiv Moscow, AC Milan and Sevilla join them in a mini cup competition