Avram Grant will call John Terry for advice if AFCON final goes to penalties, as Ghana manager pokes fun at Chelsea captain's famous Champions League miss
Avram Grant says he will call John Terry for advice if Africa Cup of Nations final goes to penalties, as Ghana manager pokes fun at Chelsea captain's famous Champions League miss
- Avram Grant jokes he will call Jon Terry for advice on penalties
- Terry famously missed a penalty in the 2008 Champions League final
- Grant managed Chelsea in the 2007-2008 season, losing two cup finals
- He has led Ghana to the Africa Cup of Nations final against Ivory Coast
Ghana manager Avram Grant was in jovial mood on Saturday ahead of the Africa Nations Cup final against Ivory Coast, saying he was going to telephone Chelsea captain John Terry to get advice about taking penalties.
Terry famously missed a shootout spot-kick which would have won Chelsea, then managed by Grant, the 2008 Champions League final against Manchester United.
But the defender slipped and sent his shot against the post, giving United a lifeline which they took to go on and lift the trophy in Moscow.
Jon Terry missed a crucial penalty in the 2008 Champions League final shootout against Manchester United
The Chelsea captain's missed spot kick in the shootout gave United a lifeline and they went on to win 6-5
Terry remembers the 2008 miss in Moscow as one of the darkest moments in his career
Ghana manager Avram Grant, who managed Chelsea in 2008, has taken a light-hearted view of the miss
'I'm going to call John Terry for some advice,' Grant quipped to reporters on Saturday when asked about the possibility of the Nations Cup final being decided by penalties.
The loss to Premier League rivals United was Grant's second defeat in a major final in 2008 following Tottenham Hotspur's 2-1 win over Chelsea after extra time in the League Cup showpiece.
Grant predicted a high quality Africa Nations Cup final on Sunday when his side take on neighbours Ivory Coast in one of the continent's age-old rivalries.
'We have seen quality players and quality football through this tournament but we can expect even more. There are a lot of good players in both line-ups and I think because of that we can expect a quality final,' Grant told reporters on Saturday.
Grant said his team had been given little chance before the tournament but improved dramatically over the three weeks of competition.
'We've shown a lot of motivation up to now and we'll show a lot in the final.'
Ghana eased passed tournament hosts Equatorial Guinea in the semi-finals 3-0
Ghana and Lorient forward Jordan Ayew scores a penalty to give his side the lead against Equatorial Guinea
Ghana and Everton winger Christian Atsu (left) takes on Equatorial Guinea defender Reuban Belima (right)
Ghana are through to the Africa Cup of Nations final and will face rivals Ivory Coast on Sunday February 9