Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole has praised Portsmouth manager Avram Grant as the two teams prepare to clash in the FA Cup final, saying the former Blues boss merits greater credit for his achievements with the Stamford Bridge club.
The England international, grinning that Grant was a "great manager" having regularly picked him in his own Chelsea starting XI, pointed out that his managerial tenure during the 2007-08 season made for impressive reading.
"I think people turn their noses up at what he did here," Cole added.
"But at the end of the day he took us to two cup finals while he was here, to two points off [Manchester] United and the width of a post away from winning the Champions League."
However, Cole believes Grant's spell at Fratton Park has been, if anything, even more outstanding.
"What he's done at Portsmouth is remarkable," he said.
"With that group of players and everything that's going on there."
With Portsmouth's future still in some doubt, Grant's former pupil isn't convinced his old mentor will be around for a sophomore season.
"I don't know if he's staying there next year, but I'm sure he'll get himself a good job if he doesn't," he continued.
The England international, grinning that Grant was a "great manager" having regularly picked him in his own Chelsea starting XI, pointed out that his managerial tenure during the 2007-08 season made for impressive reading.
"I think people turn their noses up at what he did here," Cole added.
"But at the end of the day he took us to two cup finals while he was here, to two points off [Manchester] United and the width of a post away from winning the Champions League."
However, Cole believes Grant's spell at Fratton Park has been, if anything, even more outstanding.
"What he's done at Portsmouth is remarkable," he said.
"With that group of players and everything that's going on there."
With Portsmouth's future still in some doubt, Grant's former pupil isn't convinced his old mentor will be around for a sophomore season.
"I don't know if he's staying there next year, but I'm sure he'll get himself a good job if he doesn't," he continued.
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