Since taking over from Jose Mourinho, Grant has only lost two league games - and one of those was at Old Trafford, his first in charge, when he had little time to influence the team.

They will win the title if they beat Bolton this weekend and Wigan take points off Manchester United, but fans still may not sing Grant's name.

Criticisms include failing in the big games, being everything Mourinho was not and being underqualified but enjoying a positive relationship with Roman Abramovich.

Grant, however, points to his results and the decisions he has made in his first season at Stamford Bridge.

"My job is to take decisions and to take responsibility for the decisions," Grant said. "But the players understand. They've done a good job.

"On the other hand, there have been many tough decisions about players this season. A few of them have been injured, even what happened with Frank Lampard (whose mother passed away), but that's my job. To take responsibility.

"The players showed good character, good quality and, when we had not good moments, good recovery.

"That's been very important. It's not easy. It looks easy sometimes, chasing all the time, but it's not easy."

Grant may have disappointed in domestic cups but he is still in the Champions League final.

He added: "I know the doubts at the beginning were very reasonable, but even a big coach you have to judge by results.

"That's how I want people to judge me. I think our results have been good. We've taken more points than other teams since I've been here. I don't need to answer things like this.

"I don't like talking about things like this. A few of the criticism I didn't like, but it was reasonable at the beginning."

Despite the doubts, Grant was always confident as Chelsea closed the gap on United.

"I'm not surprised," he added. "I've been with the team every day, from morning until afternoon, and I know nobody expected we'd get to this stage. But we always did."

Should Chelsea and United win their games this weekend, it will come down to goal difference, with Sir Alex Ferguson's style of free-scoring teams effectively earning an extra point.

Grant wanted to install more attractive football but admits it will take time.

He added: "I don't think that Chelsea played 'boring football' or not good football in the last three years, even if you call it 'boring Chelsea'.

"We wanted to go a different way, yes, but to use the good things we had before and continue. It was not easy, but more easy than I expected.

"I'm not against discipline and defence, but I think football has changed. The players can have more credit.

"They know about discipline and defence, but it's about a balance between freedom and the ability to express themselves and discipline.

"Too much discipline is not good. As is too much freedom. We've shown in the last month that, even if we made tactical changes, we could use it with more attacking football.

"We'll always look for players to develop our game. Sleeping is not good in football."