Avram Grant introduced the first note of controversy into the build-up to next week's Champions League final by accusing referees of handing Manchester United the Barclays Premier League title. The Chelsea first-team coach expressed his relief that the showpiece match in Moscow will not be controlled by an English official, hinting at a domestic conspiracy in favour of United.

Although he did not mention any names, Grant pointed the finger at Steve Bennett, who was criticised for failing to award a penalty against Rio Ferdinand and send off Paul Scholes in United's title-clinching victory away to Wigan Athletic on Sunday, and Mike Dean, who was in charge of Grant's first match as Chelsea's first-team coach at Old Trafford in September last year, in which John Obi Mikel, the Chelsea midfield player, was shown the red card.

Grant's comments will not have gone down well at United - Sir Alex Ferguson is likely to respond in some form or another at a press conference today - and could even invite scrutiny from the FA, but they are the result of deeply held convictions. Grant has long believed that Chelsea are treated unfairly, repeatedly complaining about the number of yellow and red cards his players receive. He was even warned by a fellow Premier League manager that United would benefit from a number of close calls as the season reached its climax.

Grant has no such concerns about the Champions League final, however, although his complaints had echoes of José Mourinho's infamous rant two years ago, in which he claimed that Chelsea would never win a leading European trophy until they joined the now defunct G14 group of leading clubs. “I can say yes, I'm pleased the referee is not English,” Grant said. “I think in England there are some very good referees, but there are some, a few of them, you can influence, like you saw. Look at the Wigan game. The referee? He was, as expected, good for one team.

“I will not say more than this. I think that the game we played against United at Old Trafford, the referee, he changed the result for sure. We know that. The red card for Mikel was not a red card, the red card that wasn't for Scholes on Sunday should have been. Then there was the penalty.

“I do not think the world is against Chelsea, or English football, but in this case there were some coincidences for Manchester United. What happened is what I expected, but again I congratulate them.”

Grant could be asked by the FA to explain his comments, although that is unlikely to alter his bullish mood before the match that could define his future. The Israeli is confident of keeping his job whatever happens in Moscow, despite the club's refusal to confirm their position, and he even took the unusual step yesterday of openly referring to his friendship with Roman Abramovich, the Chelsea owner, although he back-tracked in confirming that their relationship was a professional one between employer and employee. “It's strange that there's still speculation and I don't know why,” Grant said. “Maybe you will explain it to me.”

Grant's mood was lifted further by the sight of John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho and Didier Drogba returning to training yesterday, although the first-team coach's claim that all neutrals will be cheering on Chelsea next week may be a step too far.

“Chelsea are the favourites of the neutrals, of course,” he said. “Why do you think? Because they respect what we did this year, coming from fifth place [to finish second in the Premier League] and after drawing the first [Champions League group] game against Rosenborg. People respect these things, don't they?”

Grant emphasised his pride in leading Chelsea to their first Champions League final and promised that it would not be the last time, either. “The club was in the semi-finals three times, which means this is a good club, more than good,” he said. “The main target was to be in the final because this is the stamp of a big club. We are in the final and we want more.

“It was the dream of the club, more than anything else to be in the final. I will not speak about the past. I am very happy to be in the final. When you come to a club and it is the first time in their history, I am even more happy.

“You will see in the next year that we will develop and, although not every year, it will not be the last time we are in the final.”