Paul Scholes brazenly scripts Chelsea’s 2008 Champions League chances – by taking a look at Avraham Grant.
The Blues reached their first European Cup final and boss Grant took them to Moscow, replacing Jose Mourinho.
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But they came up against Sir Alex Ferguson’s Red Devils and eventually lost on penalties after John Terry’s infamous slip.
However, the legendary United midfielder Scholes was confident his side would come out on top as he wrote to the Chelsea manager.
Scholes told what i was wearing bt sport: “It was tough, it was a tough game because we knew how good quality Chelsea are.
“Having said that, we had some great players at the time and we really should have won the game with the opportunities we had.
“It was always going to be a tight game, Frank Lampard scored, Didier Drogba, Claude Mechele in midfield – I really cracked my nose in that game.
“But I always thought about the game – right or wrong – when you look at the managers.
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“I don’t know why, but I just looked at the managers and looked at Avram Grant and thought, ‘How can he beat Sir Alex Ferguson?’
“I don’t understand how he can do that and it’s the wrong way to look at it because the game is played on the pitch,” he said.
“I can still see John Terry slipping into that shirt, unfortunately for him.”
Grant only managed in Israel before moving to Portsmouth in 2006 as technical director.
He changed Fratton Park for Stamford Bridge a year later and was in the dugout two months later as Mourinho moved – despite not having the full UEFA coaching badge.
The Israeli, who manages Pompey, West Ham and Ghana, signed a four-year contract at Chelsea three months after taking over.
He led the Blues to the League Cup final, lost to Spurs, and finished second in the Premier League.
But a setback in his Champions League heartbreak and an FA Cup debut for Barnsley saw him sacked at the end of the season.
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Scholes won the Champions League trophy for the second time that night in Moscow.
But he admitted to feeling embarrassed at first.
He and Roy Keane had to see a dramatic finale from the stands at Noe Camp in 1999 as they were both suspended.
The midfielder was finally allowed to join his teammates on the pitch – but he stood out in his gray suit and safety badge.
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