Win or lose this Champions League final against Manchester United, the word within Chelsea is that Grant is very likely to be replaced in the summer. His heroes are poignant reminders of others who fought against often impossible odds.

“I like to learn from leaders. I have pictures of those men on my wall,” said Grant last night.

“They were great people and went all the way, won everything. But if you don’t enjoy the process, you’re not a happy man.”

It is not on the pitch where Grant faces impossible odds because on the distinctly dodgy turf of the Luzhniki tonight his Chelsea team have as good a chance of beating Premier League champions United as anyone.

It is off it, of course. With the names of people like Roberto Mancini floating around as 

possible successors, Grant has lately seemed wearied by the fight. 

At the weekend he was telling friends he might even walk away if his team won tonight. It may have been fleeting, though, because he still hopes that owner Roman Abramovich will keep him in the job if his team beat United.

There was a flash of the old defiance as he said: “Why would I go? We are here today, 10 days after the league finished. In a normal season for Chelsea we would be on vacation now. 

"We are here because we have made it to the most important game for teams all over the world – the final of the Champions League.

“I’m not the most important man here. We need to respect everybody at Chelsea, from the owner who built the team, the backroom staff, and the players. It is about them, not me.”

Ten days ago Grant’s team lost out in a neck-and-neck race for the league title by just two points. 

He is proud of what they have achieved, proud of getting past Liverpool to this final, of the wins over United and Arsenal that kept the title fight going to the wire.

And he is convinced he can outwit Sir Alex Ferguson, veteran of one Champions League win already and more than a hundred ties. “I really respect Alex as a person and a manager. He has done a great job,” said Grant. 

“It’s the second time for him in the final of the Champions League. The first one he won. I’m in my first one in my first year. Not many managers have been in this final. I respect him, but I want to win.

“We as managers are not as important as what the players do out on the pitch. We have both done a good job up to now.”

Grant knows full well how much this means to Abramovich. 

“You can imagine,” he added. “He came from here, and he always wanted to be in the final. It’s his dream. I’m not a drinker, but if we win, I’ll drink more than one vodka with him.”