Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic has admitted that working under former manager Avram Grant was "the most difficult time in my career".
The Serbian international joined the club for £9 million in January 2008, just over a month after Grant replaced Jose Mourinho as manager at the west London club. And Ivanovic — who will come up against Grant on Saturday in the FA Cup final against Portsmouth — admits that his inability to get into the Israeli's first-team for the remainder of that season, when they were targetting Premier League and Champions League success, was a source of great frustration.
"I have no ill feeling towards Avram but at that moment I was really angry," Ivanovic told the Evening Standard.
"I understand him now because I couldn't change a lot of things in that moment.
"When I arrived it was difficult for a lot of reasons. I had come from the Russian League when there was a break between seasons.
"I was not ready to play. I needed time to be able to get used to the training, the play and everything about the club. But after that I picked up an injury and when I returned it was near the end of the season and every game for Chelsea at that stage was important.
"The squad was very strong and they were trying to get to the Champions League Final. They were also involved in a very tough title race with Manchester United, like it was this year.
"However, it was the most difficult time in my career."
Ivanovic only made his debut for the Blues eight months after signing, and long after Luiz Felipe Scolari had replaced Grant in the dugout. Now a first-team fixture at Stamford Bridge, Ivanovic paid tribute to Andriy Shevchenko — another who had his problems during his stay at the club — for giving him the advice and guidance that enabled him to survive the dark days.
"I can't forget what Andriy did. He really helped me. He tried to give me confidence," Ivanovic said.
"He told me about the style of play in England, what I had to do as a defender and where I could improve.
"It was a difficult period for him, too. He had been outside the team, he was also injured, but he wasn't just thinking about himself, he was thinking of me too.
"I can only say a big thank you to him for everything he did because he helped me become prepared for when I would play."
The Serbian international joined the club for £9 million in January 2008, just over a month after Grant replaced Jose Mourinho as manager at the west London club. And Ivanovic — who will come up against Grant on Saturday in the FA Cup final against Portsmouth — admits that his inability to get into the Israeli's first-team for the remainder of that season, when they were targetting Premier League and Champions League success, was a source of great frustration.
"I have no ill feeling towards Avram but at that moment I was really angry," Ivanovic told the Evening Standard.
"I understand him now because I couldn't change a lot of things in that moment.
"When I arrived it was difficult for a lot of reasons. I had come from the Russian League when there was a break between seasons.
"I was not ready to play. I needed time to be able to get used to the training, the play and everything about the club. But after that I picked up an injury and when I returned it was near the end of the season and every game for Chelsea at that stage was important.
"The squad was very strong and they were trying to get to the Champions League Final. They were also involved in a very tough title race with Manchester United, like it was this year.
"However, it was the most difficult time in my career."
Ivanovic only made his debut for the Blues eight months after signing, and long after Luiz Felipe Scolari had replaced Grant in the dugout. Now a first-team fixture at Stamford Bridge, Ivanovic paid tribute to Andriy Shevchenko — another who had his problems during his stay at the club — for giving him the advice and guidance that enabled him to survive the dark days.
"I can't forget what Andriy did. He really helped me. He tried to give me confidence," Ivanovic said.
"He told me about the style of play in England, what I had to do as a defender and where I could improve.
"It was a difficult period for him, too. He had been outside the team, he was also injured, but he wasn't just thinking about himself, he was thinking of me too.
"I can only say a big thank you to him for everything he did because he helped me become prepared for when I would play."
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