For a man facing an uncertain future, Avram Grant seems strangely fixated with the past. Although not uttering the name of his predecessor, the Chelsea first-team coach did his best yesterday to blame José Mourinho for the flak he has faced this season, saying that he inherited a team in no shape to challenge for the Barclays Premier League title.

In one sense Grant is correct because succeeding a man such as Mourinho is an impossible job, although many will be sceptical about his attempt to deflect the responsibility for his team's failings. Chelsea were fifth in an embryonic table when Grant took over in September, although they were only two points behind Arsenal, the leaders at the time, and level with Manchester United, so keeping them in contention until the later stages of the season does not constitute the remarkable recovery he would have everyone believe.

Grant deserves credit for keeping an unhappy dressing-room together during a difficult period, although whether Chelsea have made any real progress over the past seven months is unclear, with consistent Premier League results counter-balanced by embarrassing cup defeats by Tottenham Hotspur and Barnsley and lingering doubts about the quality of the team's football.

As a statistical curiosity, Grant's record in 28 league matches is the same as Mourinho's over the corresponding period last season, which is fitting because it seems certain to

yield the same result: second place behind United. Failure to beat Everton at Goodison Park this evening would end their fading hopes, although Grant insists that they have done well to extend the title race this far.

“Realistically, we did not have a chance from Day 1 I was here, as there was always a team above us with more points than Chelsea,” he said. “When I received the team, I don't think anyone, including the Prime Minister of England, could see us in the position we're in now. We came from nowhere to fight for the championship and I think we've done a great job until now.

“We feel pressure all the time, but it is a good pressure and I don't want to live without it. If Manchester United take the title, I will be the first to congratulate them, but at the moment I will not give up. We're still fighting and still believe we can do it. Nobody told me I have to deliver a trophy, but I want to more than others. Compared to when I received the club, the situation is good.”

Grant has reservations about the make-up of his - or rather Mourinho's - squad and is planning an extensive overhaul, as The Times reported yesterday. The Israeli is expecting a difficult summer in the transfer market, however, fearing that Chelsea have lost their financial advantage and he may have to lower his sights from high-profile stars such as Lionel Messi, of Barcelona, to less well-known players such as Luka Modric, of Dynamo Zagreb.

“We know the position of the club,” Grant said. “I do not think the money will be a problem if we find a good player, or players, to bring in. It could be £80million or £100million, but we do not have the advantage of two or three years ago. We know Man United also spend money, in my opinion Arsenal will also buy and Liverpool also. We will do the same. We're happy with what happened this year but want to improve it.

“The advantage that we had two or three years ago, when all the big clubs in Europe did not have money, including Manchester United, Liverpool, Barcelona and Real Madrid, has gone. Money was not the issue here. Three years ago when a player was big money, he was yours. Now it has changed. I don't think that Barcelona, for example, will give Messi away even for big money.”

As if preparing the fans for domestic disappointment, Grant said for the first time that the Champions League had been his main target all along, and it could be the only trophy left to play for at the end of this evening. Chelsea will again be without Frank Lampard, who has stayed in London with his ill mother, while Didier Drogba is a doubt because of a knee injury.

“We have an important league game at Everton and then have five days to think about the Champions League, which we say all the time is the main target,” Grant said. “It's always been the target and we're in a good position.”