Chelsea were too quick to give him the boot claims Portsmouth manager Avram Grant, after all, he did lead them to a Champions League final.

He was in charge of the Blues for a span of eight months after the dismissal of Jose Mourinho, and he is set to return to Stamford Bridge for the first time since leaving the Blues in May 2008 with his Pompey charges.

Grant claimed that the Blues were doing better than ever during his time at the helm, and believed that owner Roman Abramovich should have had more faith in him despite falling to rivals Manchester United on penalties.

Speaking to Sporting Life the Pompey boss said, "I thought I needed to continue because the team was on the way up

"Every month, it was better. The football improved and I thought it was good for me, good for the club and good for the owner for me to stay.

"But the owner took a decision and I have two choices - to look back or look forward."

The Israeli continued to add that there was nothing in football that could shock him, including his sacking:

"I've been in football too long to say that something would surprise me.

"Sometimes I can read between the lines but I didn't even think about this.

"In the last three or four months especially, I was concentrating on winning all the titles.

"When it happened, I was surprised, but not completely because that's football."

He will lead his cellar dwelling club against the league leaders, Chelsea, tonight at Stamford Bridge.