Avram Grant has told his Chelsea players that anyone unhappy with his leadership is free to leave the club. The Israeli has held one-to-one meetings with every member of his first-team squad over the past few days, although nobody has indicated a wish to take up his offer.

Grant’s move represents a calculated attempt to win over the dressing-room after the ructions that followed José Mourinho’s departure last week. Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard shed tears as they said goodbye to their former manager, but Grant believes that he has brought both players round to his way of thinking. John Terry has also given his backing to the manager, calling a players’ meeting last Friday in an attempt to unite the squad.

“I think I have the backing of the players, but I can only judge by their actions or what they say to me,” Grant said. “Judging by their reaction against Manchester United [on Sunday], Chelsea can be proud of them as they were very professional and I didn’t see one problem.

“Every new coach that comes in, the players will ask who he is and what to expect of him. I ask the same questions of myself. But I have an advantage because I’ve been here for two months and saw them for the last three years from outside. For the first few days it’s better than I thought and I’m sure it will be better from now on.

“When you have 25 players in the squad, sometimes one or two aren’t happy, but I didn’t see that. I’m a very positive person and like to think about the positive things the players can bring to Chelsea. I’m positive but know it can’t always be 100 per cent happiness. When any new coach comes to a club something can happen, but at the moment it’s been OK.”

Many of Chelsea’s senior players are sceptical about Grant’s ability to lead them to silverware, although they have resolved to give their best for him because it is in their interests. Terry told his team-mates that they would gain nothing by sulking and they travelled to Hull last night for their Carling Cup third-round tie in determined mood. Grant accepts that many players will remain loyal to Mourinho, although he believes that their primary loyalty is to the club.

“First, a player needs to play for himself,” he said. “That’s most important because sometimes coaches come and go. Not all of them is Alex Ferguson that stay 25 years. I respect that the players respect José because they worked together. I don’t have any doubt about their loyalty for the club. They show it before and they will show it again.

“If there was a player who was 3½ years under José and he didn’t have a good relationship with him, I would be worried because it would be more strange that they can say after three years, ‘I don’t know him, he was not good for me’. ”

Grant will name the strongest team available to him as Chelsea begin their defence of the Carling Cup against Hull City at the KC Stadium tonight, although it will not include John Obi Mikel. Yesterday, the FA upheld Mike Dean’s decision to send off the Nigeria player at Old Trafford on Sunday and his three-match ban starts this evening.

“I’m very disappointed and surprised,” Grant said. “One of the things I teach all my players and even my children is that when you make a mistake you should say you made a mistake and carry on. I can promise you that when I make a mistake I will come here and admit it. It’s happened to all of us, nobody’s perfect. The referee made a mistake and the FA could correct it. They didn’t so I’m very disappointed.”