Grant sympathy
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ByEurosport
Published 21/05/2008 at 22:29 GMT
An inconsolable John Terry was comforted by Chelsea manager Avram Grant after the captain missed the chance to win the Champions League from the penalty spot.
FOOTBALL; John Terry, Chelsea, May 2008
Image credit: Reuters
Terry stepped up to take Chelsea's fifth penalty, which would have guaranteed the European crown if he had put it away.
However after his standing foot slipped as he swung and his kick smacked against the post, Manchester United went on to win in sudden death.
"What can I say? We dominated the game, we hit the post two times and then we lost on penalties," the Blues boss told Sky Sports.
"JT is the main reason we are here. We had a difficult time and he is part of the team. The team played excellently and I am very proud.
"He was great all season, he was great in the semi-final and this game. He is the reason they didn't create any chances - I feel sorry for him and the team."
Terry also headed away a shot from Ryan Giggs with Petr Cech stranded and the goal gaping to keep Chelsea in the game.
Assistant manager Henk ten Cate could not believe Terry's misfortune after he was elevated to the top five takers with Didier Drogba's red card ruling him out.
"It was unbelievable," he reflected. "He just slipped. We practised penalties in training last week and he was so confident - he took them all very well.
"We were pretty confident. He was not in the first five but when it comes to take them, somebody might say 'I don't feel well, I prefer somebody else take it'."
Israeli Grant, who - it has been reported - may not keep the job into next season, promised the club's fans that they would be back to challenge again.
"It's not the last time you will see Chelsea in the final," he said. "You will see us back - and we will win the final."
Blues and England midfielder Frank Lampard also had words of consolation for his friend Terry.
"John is Mister Chelsea," he said. "He wants it more than anyone at this club and not many centre-halves would stand up and take a penalty of that importance.
"John did what he did and he will be back."
Lampard recently suffered the loss of his mother Pat.
"I feel very emotionally drained," he said. "It [the final] has become almost not that important with things personally recently.
"My team-mates have been fantastic and I wanted to win this for them. I'm very fortunate to have them and I wanted to be here with them and win the Champions League."
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