Uncertain future adds to Chelsea's gloom

By Mitch Phillips

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Despondency and uncertainty were the prevailing feelings in the Chelsea camp as they faced a grey Moscow morning on Thursday, still stinging from their shootout defeat in the Champions League final.

If John Terry's spot kick had been fractionally more accurate it would have been him, instead of Manchester United duo Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs, lifting the trophy in the early hours of Thursday morning in Moscow.

Instead, Terry's effort clipped a post and moments later Nicolas Anelka's kick was saved by Edwin van der Sar to leave Chelsea empty-handed for the season after finishing runners-up in the Champions League, Premier League and League Cup.

It was not what Russian owner Roman Abramovich would have had in mind when he bought the club in 2003. But it was still Chelsea's best effort in Europe's top competition after three semi-final defeats in the last five years.

Whether it will be enough to keep coach Avram Grant in a job remains to be seen. With speculation too about the future of striker Didier Drogba, defender Ricardo Carvalho and even badge-kissing midfielder Frank Lampard, it could be an uneasy close-season at Stamford Bridge.

Grant, who took over from the hugely popular Jose Mourinho in September, has yet to win over all the Chelsea support, but the Israeli remains calm about his position at the club.

"I think it has been a terrific season and everyone at Chelsea can be very optimistic about the future," he said.

UNHAPPY TIME