Avram Grant feels the FA Cup has provided a welcome distraction for Portsmouth in a troubled campaign, but is expecting a tough ride against Tottenham in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. Pompey have endured a season to forget as they lurched from one financial crisis to another, which eventually resulted in administration and the docking of nine points by the Premier League to all but seal their relegation.
"I am disappointed about many things this season, but which have happened off the pitch," said Grant.
"It has, though, been easy for us to concentrate in the cup because we knew nobody could take points from us - although when we came through the quarter-final, they tried.
"To be in the last four with such good clubs in this season is a big achievement, but we also want to do well.
"I agree it is a big achievement to be in last four, but it would be bigger if we can get to the final."
Grant maintained: "The players need to understand on the big occasions, they need to perform.
"It will be an event for us, but if want to be in the final, we will have to beat a very good team.
"It is not easy to play against Tottenham, but we want to make sure it will not be easy to play against us, like it has been in the last few league games."
Pompey's relegation could be confirmed by the time Grant leads his side out at Wembley on Sunday afternoon.
"The writing was on the wall three months ago," he said.
"If it [relegation] happens this Saturday, or next Saturday, it does not matter - it happened a long time ago in the offices of the Premier League, not on the pitch.
"I think it was unfair for us, and the supporters, but I have spoken about this so many times: I have been a finance man, a doctor, now please can I be a football manager again?"
Grant believes the way his squad continued to fight for the club in such difficult circumstances is a credit to their character.
"Sometimes things have been impossible, even a nightmare, but I have seen so many positive things, how we have played with a fighting spirit," said the Pompey boss.
"I do not know how we won in the third round at Coventry and then to beat good teams like Sunderland, Birmingham and also at Southampton, where everyone knows how much it means to us and the fans - we want to continue this.
"This has been one of the identities of this season - despite everything, we have continued fighting, not given up and always play football, which is not kick and run.
"We have played the best football of the teams outside the top eight - and sometimes better."
