On this day: Portsmouth boss Avram Grant fires Wembley rallying cry ahead of Chelsea FA Cup final

Pompey were massive underdogs against the Premier League champions ahead of the following day’s FA Cup final.

Written off by the pundits and given victory odds as long as 18/ 1 by the bookies, Carlo Ancelotti’s men were the overwhelming favourites.

A Pompey triumph would have rank as one of the greatest FA Cup final shocks of all time.

But belief continued to surge through Grant and his men.

The Israeli had been an inspirational figure in the remarkable battle against all the odds during the season.

And, despite the daunting spectre of Ancelotti and Chelsea forming the Wembley opposition, he remained nerveless and brimming with conviction in his side’s ability.

He said: ‘I don’t believe in football that you need to fear. Against this team we need to be very, very careful because they can hurt you from everywhere.

‘They are a very good team, they deserve to be champions, they have won in style many games.

‘We know we are the underdog. I don’t like to be the underdog, but we are. ‘ They may be better before the game and after the game – but we will try to be better during the game.

‘On the pitch we need to do our job. Without working hard you cannot achieve anything 90 per cent of the time.

‘In football, 10 per cent happens without a reason, but 90 per cent is down to hard work, process and a way of thinking.

‘That is what we have here. We are strong here and this is the most important thing.

‘People talk about destiny, yet that means you don’t have to do anything because it will happen anyway.

‘I believe in a combination: that there is a destination and things you need to influence. Success will not come to you, you have to go to success. ‘ I believe that against Chelsea, first we need to do our job and then hope for something I cannot control.

‘We will play football, though, I can promise you this.’

Pompey would agonisingly lose the final against Chelsea 1-0, with Didier Drogba notching the only goal on 59 minutes.

Only moments earlier, however, Kevin-Prince Boateng missed a penalty for Grant's side which could completely changed the outcome of the Wembley clash.