Olympiacos striker Lomana Lualua admits he's a big fan of Chelsea coach Avram Grant.

Ahead of their Champions League meeting, ex-Newcastle star Lualua told the People: "I got to know Avram very well when he was Director of Football at Portsmouth and he is a top man.

"He helped me a lot last season when I was at my lowest point. I was still haunted by the death of my baby son from pneumonia, I was injured all the time and had fallen out of love with football.

"Avram told me to keep smiling, keep working hard and that it would all come right for me.

"He had already joined Chelsea when Olympiacos made a move for me but I rang him and he said I should go because they are a massive club and it was a chance for me to play in the Champions League.

"Neither of us thought we would be playing each other in the knockout stages just a few months later. I owe Avram a lot but that will not stop me wanting to beat him."