Grant emotional after Chelsea success on Holocaust Day

By Clare Lovell

LONDON (Reuters) - Chelsea manager Avram Grant said on Wednesday he felt very emotional after taking his side to the Champions League final on Holocaust Remembrance Day.

"It was not an easy day for me," said the Israeli manager, whose father survived the Holocaust but had to bury his own parents and sister "with his own hands".

"I'm proud with what we achieved on this day...it was an emotional day," said Grant, whose Chelsea team will meet Manchester United in the final next month in Moscow.

Chelsea beat Liverpool 3-2 for an aggregate 4-3 victory to reach the Champions League final for the first time and Grant fell to his knees apparently in prayer after the final whistle.

"My father is a survivor of the Holocaust," he said. "It puts it in some perspective. It wasn't easy but now it's a happy day," Grant, who plans to visit Auschwitz on Thursday added.

He also praised the courage of midfielder Frank Lampard, who returned to play after his mother died last week and wept after scoring from the penalty spot for Chelsea's second goal.

BRAVE MAN

"He is a brave man. He was very close to his mother. It was his decision to return," Grant said, adding he had selected the England midfielder to start after watching him train on Tuesday.