Portsmouth manager Avram Grant believes he deserved more time at Chelsea after guiding them to the Champions League final.

The Israeli will take charge of a club at Stamford Bridge for the first time since his departure in May 2008 when Portsmouth visit west London tonight.

Grant still has fond memories of his time with Chelsea and admits his return to the venue will be an emotional occasion. But the former Israel national team boss believes the team were going forward under his leadership and felt owner Roman Abramovich should have kept faith with him.

"I thought I needed to continue because the team was on the way up. Every month, it was better," Grant said.

"The football improved and 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."

Grant was not completely shocked by his sacking, which came just four days after the Blues lost to Manchester United in the Champions League final via a penalty shoot-out.

Grant said: "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."