Graphic: All the fun of the flair

Winston Churchill’s wartime verdict on Soviet foreign policy – “a puzzle inside a riddle wrapped in an enigma” – can also be applied to Avram Grant, whose father was being deported to Siberia just as the USSR was deciding whose side it was on during the Second World War. The Chelsea first-team coach has led his side to the Carling Cup final and into the thick of the title race on the back of a run of just two defeats in 28 matches, yet many remain unconvinced of his ability and unsure of his precise contribution, even within his own dressing-room.

The one safe conclusion that can be drawn regarding Chelsea’s progress under Grant is that it has taken almost everyone by surprise. Even senior board members at Stamford Bridge were sceptical after his appointment last September, regarding it as a personal whim of Roman Abramovich, the club owner, that they had no option but to indulge.

Grant had never held a managerial position outside Israel and had been away from club management for more than five years, but within the space of four months he has already gone some considerable distance towards proving the doubters wrong. The quietly spoken 52-year-old acknowledged this for the first time after Chelsea’s semi-final win against Everton, stopping short of Churchillian rhetoric but pointing out that the club’s – and therefore his – achievements this season deserved greater respect.

It would be churlish to deny Grant credit for turning a troubled team into one seemingly capable of challenging for honours on all fronts, but how he has done so remains a mystery. Indeed, staff at the club’s Cobham training ground and dressing-room insid-ers confirm that it is easier to state with conviction what Grant does not contribute, rather than what he does. Even some of the players are unsure.

The Israeli has little involvement in training, with Steve Clarke, the assistant first-team coach, planning and taking almost all the sessions single-handedly until Henk ten Cate was appointed to work alongside him in October, and often lets his underlings administer prematch and half-time team talks, with Clarke issuing the rallying cry that helped Chelsea to come from behind to beat Fulham at Craven Cottage on New Year’s Day.

This hands-off approach has taken many of his players by surprise, as it represents the polar opposite of the attitude of José Mourinho, his predecessor, whose desire for total control was such that even the club’s masseurs lived in fear of public humiliation. Such is Grant’s low profile that cynics claim anyone could manage his Chelsea team, because the players are simply playing for themselves.

Grant has certainly been helped by the strong team spirit and professionalism of his squad originally instilled by Mourinho, which has been even more noticeable in the past few weeks in the absence of key players and leaders such as John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, but it would be wrong to disregard his input entirely. As a level-headed individual, his greatest contribution has been to create a sense of calm where there was chaos, delegating where necessary but also liberating his players to do what they do best.

Grant’s impact is shown in subtle ways. Although not an imposing figure in the dressing-room, he has proved himself a shrewd man-manag-er, taking players to one side for tactical briefings and giving them the confidence to express themselves. It has been noticeable that Chelsea’s more creative players, such as Joe Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips, have thrived under his more relaxed leadership.

Another important characteristic of Grant’s regime is the absence of favourites, ensuring that all his players are fighting for their place every time they take the pitch.

Grant has also been responsible for several tactical innovations, such as playing Wright-Phillips in a deeper role, while his substitutions have contributed to his 21 wins from 28 matches. The half-time introduction of John Obi Mikel changed the game with Fulham and his decision to send Wright-Phillips up front for the final minutes of the Carling Cup semi-final, first leg led directly to Chelsea’s late winner.

The test of Grant’s credentials will come when Manchester United and Arsenal visit Stamford Bridge and with the resumption of the Champions League, although the man of mystery has done enough to survive the season, whatever the outcome.