Avram Grant described himself as the ''normal'' one as he vowed to coach Chelsea in his own way after taking over from 'the Special One'.

Grant was unveiled as first-team coach at Stamford Bridge this evening, taking over from Jose Mourinho following the shock events at the club this week, but he made a less dramatic immediate impact than his predecessor.

While Mourinho famously called himself "special", Grant said: ''I am a normal person. I have my own philosophy. I respect everything that was here in the past and I'm sure what I do in the future will be respected.

''I fully respect Jose Mourinho. In the two months we worked together I enjoyed working with him. I respect everything he did for the club. In the three years here he had a lot of success. I want to follow that success and make things of my own.''

He added: ''In all of the world there are billions of people and they are all different. Not two people have the same opinion.''

Grant could not have asked for a tougher start, with Manchester United his first game and the first day of the Jewish holiday, meaning he will not be with his squad the day before the match.

Mourinho's close relationship with his players has led to suggestions Grant now has to win over the squad.

''I would be more disappointed if the players did not have a good relationship with Jose,'' Grant said. ''He was the coach for three and a half years and won games and trophies.

''I need to look at the future, the near future especially. I think we will have a good relationship with the players and continue what we started in the last two days. We will make them together and they are together.''

Despite reports of player unrest after Mourinho's departure, chief executive Peter Kenyon stated the squad were supportive after a turbulent few days.

''At the training ground it was business as usual,'' Kenyon said. ''It was Avram trying to prepare the team. As professionals they all want to turn their attention to the Manchester United game.

''After our initial meeting with the players there was a meeting with the team on their own and unanimously they came out in full support of the changes that have been made.

''They want us to support them in getting back to football.''

Grant is a close friend of owner Roman Abramovich but the club deny the relationship has anything to do with Mourinho's departure or that he was brought to the club to eventually take over.

While Grant has no experience coaching in England and minimal experience in the Champions League, he is aware of the emphasis on entertainment, which has been reported as one of the demands of Abramovich.

''Football is also entertainment,'' said the former Israel coach. ''We need to win games and fight for the trophies but I think the way we do this and win is also important.

''To play good and positive football - I am not saying it wasn't here in the past and I am talking only of now. We will try to combine those two things and I am sure we can do it.

''I know we are not going to win all the games but I believe we can do it in a positive way.''

Mourinho's appointment in 2004 came after he won the Champions League with Porto and he was considered as the best in the business, which is in contrast to Grant's impressive but unspectacular reputation.

''The criteria of what we need for a manager has changed because the club has changed,'' explained Kenyon. ''The position of Chelsea has changed.

''I can honestly say one of the key criteria I was looking for (in 2004), what we hadn't got in the team, was an ethos of what a winning team was all about.

''It was really important for the person who came in. Jose came with those credentials.

''We have moved on. Chelsea today is a very different club. Its players are at a completely different level of those who were here three years ago.The results in the future will demonstrate we have taken the right decision.''