Chelsea's players are backing coach Avram Grant to be in charge next season.

"He (Grant) has had a tough time," said Joe Cole. "Anyone coming into this club and replacing Jose, who was such a favourite of the fans and everyone around the club would have had a tough time.

"But he's done a great job. Managers are judged on results and where we are in the league and the champions league is incredible, not just for the manager but for his staff and the players and I'll include everyone in that."

Still, though, the chant of "Jose Mourinho" can echo around Stamford Bridge on a bad day, while Grant has yet to hear himself serenaded by the fans.

"I think that will happen in time," said Cole. "We're in the business of silverware and if we can deliver the Premier League or the Champions League or both, it would be the biggest year we've ever had as a club and we'll just keep going."

Ballack added his pubic backing. "For me there's no point to change the manager because we have great success now," he said. "We're in the Champions League final and we came back in the Premier League, which is fantastic."

The German attempts to steer clear of the inevitable comparisons to the Special One. "Avram is a little bit quieter than Jose but when he speaks to the players he speaks very clear and concisely," he said.