Portsmouth boss Avram Grant says he felt "sad and proud" after they lost the FA Cup final 1-0 to Chelsea.

Pompey will play in the Championship next season after a season of on and off pitch struggles and they went down to a Didier Drogba strike at Wembley.

Grant, who refused to say whether he would be at the club next season, said: "We can be very proud of this team.

"We played against the champions and everyone said they'd beat us easily, so we're sad and proud at the same time."

Chelsea hit the woodwork five times in the first half before Portsmouth's Kevin Prince-Boateng missed a penalty after the break, with Didier Drogba curling home a 25-yard free-kick to win it shortly after.

Grant says with a bit more luck, Pompey could have emerged shock victors: "We had the biggest chance of the first half when Frederic Piquionne was in front of an open goal and he didn't score.

"But in second half we played well, we deserved the penalty and we deserved more - we were one penalty away from winning the final."

With Pompey - who are in administration and were deducted nine points in the Premier League this season - in dire financial straits, Grant says time is running out for him to be convinced he should stay at Fratton Park.

"It was exciting here for me, but I don't want another year like this, not even half of this," he added. "I don't want to manage in the Championship, but because it's Portsmouth I'm waiting and waiting. If someone will not buy the club they will have a problem.

"But the fans are just great. I don't even know the word to say what I think about them. They are the best supporters that I ever saw.

606: DEBATE We fought like lions and kept the score down to a respectable 1-0 loss. Next season? I just want us to stay in existence. powered_by_pompey

"They are supporting the team, they push the team in good moments and bad moments. I love them."

The Israeli, who coached Chelsea to the Champions League final two years ago, also renewed his attack on the Premier League for refusing to support the club in their bid to play in next season's Europa League.

"Each one of the Premier League needs to come and shake hands with the players and say 'You saved the pride of the English league'," said Grant. "But they punish the players, they punish the club. It makes me angry.

"I will fight against something I think is wrong. You saw today what Portsmouth did on the pitch.

"They should send a letter to the players saying thank you. You saved us, you will be in Europe next season and we will give each one of you a medal because you were good. That is what I think.

"The English league shot itself in the foot. The players respected the Premier League when the Premier League didn't respect the players."

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