Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho expects to see out his contract with the Barclays Premiership champions, despite persistent reports of unrest behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho's relationship with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has been under the spotlight this season, and there has been much speculation about who might succeed the manager should he leave the club this year.
But Mourinho, asked if he is confident he will still be in charge at the end of the season, told BBC1: "I don't have to be confident. I have a contract that runs until 2010, and that's a very important thing.
"I am manager today and until the end of the season and I believe I will be manager until 2010," he said, just before Chelsea's FA Cup fourth-round tie at home to Nottingham Forest.
Mourinho is aware that a string of potential successors at Stamford Bridge is being discussed in the media but is adamant he is not being unsettled by the speculation.
He said: "If I believe, from what I read in the press, there are contenders - but I don't get influenced by the press. The players feel I am the same - same desire, same commitment."
Pressed on the constant talk of disharmony between himself and Abramovich, Mourinho told BBC's Gary Lineker: "The only thing I can tell you 100% is everyone at this club wants to win. So when I read a few things suggesting we are not on the same side, it's completely untrue. We all want to win.
"Yes we [he and Abramovich] speak. He speaks to me and to (chief executive) Peter Kenyon.
"Roman is not in London for quite a long time. But he is chairman of this club and he doesn't have to give any explanations about his personal life - and when he is back (in London) he is always welcome in our space, in our dressing room."
Sunday, January 28, 2007
JOSE CONFIDENT OF COMPLETING CONTRACT
FABREGAS 'IN NEED OF REST'
By Jim van Wijk, PA Sport
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger accepts that sooner or later he will have to give Cesc Fabregas a break.
The brilliant 19-year-old midfielder has appeared in all of the Gunners' Barclays Premiership and Champions League games this season.
Suspension kept him out of the FA Cup third-round victory at Liverpool, but he was back in the thick of the action for the midweek Carling Cup semi-final first leg at Tottenham.
Bolton travel to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday for a fourth-round FA Cup meeting, before the Gunners welcome Spurs for the Carling Cup second leg next week.
With European action resuming at the end of February, it is set to be a hectic schedule for Arsenal, who last weekend beat Premiership leaders Manchester United to remain in touch with the top three.
Fabregas is happy enough to continue his role at the heart of the team whenever asked.
Wenger, though, remains acutely aware of the need to protect one of his key men against burnout.
The Arsenal manager admitted: "I do not know whether Cesc will play or not yet.
"He will be on the bench or in the team.
"But I am tempted to count one game out for him, either on Sunday or Wednesday."
As several other first-choice players are struggling with injury, not to mention the suspension of midfielder Gilberto, Wenger admits he has little room for manoeuvre in team selection.
However, goalkeeper Jens Lehmann is set to be given another breather, with Manuel Almunia continuing to deputise.
Wenger believes the current fixture pile-up could present the perfect opportunity for Julio Baptista - who netted a brace at White Hart Lane to make his mark in the side.
The 25-year-old Brazilian is only on loan from Real Madrid until the end of the season, having arrived at the Emirates Stadium during the last transfer window as part of the deal which took winger Jose Antonio Reyes to Spain.
That move could yet be made permanent.
Wenger said: "What he is achieving will help to make my mind up.
"He scored four at Liverpool, two at Tottenham - you could do worse.
"It took him time to adapt, but it is amazing - suddenly 'boom' one goal is in.
"That is him. He has a little bit of the qualities which [Robert] Pires had, to turn up in the box - and always you need these kinds of players."
Wenger and Ferguson comment about Platini as the new UEFA President
By Martyn Ziegler, PA Chief Sports Reporter, Dusseldorf
New UEFA president Michel Platini has been warned by fellow Frenchman Arsene Wenger that he may not be able to deliver on his ambitions to change the Champions League.
Platini, who won Friday's presidential election to oust Lennart Johansson from European football's top job, will present proposals in April which aim to eventually limit the number of clubs in Europe's elite competition to three from any one country.
Wenger said: "I am scared that he based his programme on something that he will not be able to deliver because he cannot decide that - that has to be voted [by UEFA's executive committee].
"I am surprised when people say 'yes that's what he promised' but he cannot deliver that. It can only be delivered if it is voted.
"If it gets voted, we will all adapt and fight harder to be number three but I do not think it will change the destiny of the game."
Wenger, who worked under Platini's father at Ligue 1 club Nancy, believes the proposed changes helped him win the vote among UEFA countries by 27 to 23.
He added: "I'm not surprised - the three big countries will vote against you, they will vote for Johansson.
"But you get Andorra, Serbia and the rest and that's the best calculation he made.
"I know him very, very well and I like him as a person. He is a very intelligent person, he loves football and I've known Platini for 30 years.
"His father was influential on my career and had a big influence on his son as well."
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson also spoke out against changing the current Champions League set-up.
Ferguson said: "The only way you could get rid of the fourth team is by reducing the competition or bringing in more teams from other countries.
"The way it is at the moment, with the top countries entering their top teams, you get some fantastic games.
"It is a fantastic tournament and you are playing all the best teams. I don't think a lot needs to be done to it."
The Football Association and Premier League are expected to try to persuade Platini to maintain the status quo which allows England, Spain and Italy to have four teams qualify for Europe's premier club competition.
Platini said: "The new format of the Champions League is for 2009.
"I talked about finding a better equilibrium for the number of clubs and that's for 2009-10.
"The final decision will be in April so we have a few months still to see which way we will go, but I would like a better equilibrium - it is very close to my heart.
"If you are just talking about one club in England that doesn't convince me that it is not the right thing to do."
The 51-year-old will serve for the next four years and will also replace 77-year-old Johansson as a FIFA vice-president. Platini immediately invited Johansson to become an honorary president of UEFA.
The former France captain and coach said: "This is just the beginning of an adventure.
"I'm happy today to be able to represent European football. I'm very moved and very happy.
"When I was a footballer, when you won a great victory you received a cup and went on a lap of honour. This is a great victory for me but I'm not going to do a lap of honour because the now the work starts."
The election victory followed a tense campaign which descended into bitterness in the days leading up to the vote.
In his final address to the 52 UEFA member associations, Johansson launched an angry attack at FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who had publicly backed Platini at the opening of the Congress.
Johansson said: "I appreciate the FIFA president's words about what we have achieved in the 17 years of my presidency but I cannot appreciate it when the FIFA president interferes in an election process here in UEFA.
"It's not the FIFA president, it is you the Congress taking the decision."
Platini has tried to appeal to the smaller countries and also supported a proposal by the Scottish FA for UEFA to carry out a feasibility study into expanding the European Championships finals to 24 teams.
Johansson's age has not helped his cause, especially with UEFA having a rule that committee members must retire at the age of 70.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Robin Van Persie injured for the rest of the season
Van Persie, 23, injured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot after scoring the equaliser in the 2-1 victory over Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Wenger said: "Ideally you would say six to eight weeks - but it could be 10”.
“That means April and you are close to the end of the season. I hope it will be six - but that's really optimistic."
Van Persie had been named on the bench after struggling to overcome an ankle problem but was sent on midway through the second half against United as Arsenal sought to overturn a 1-0 deficit.
And he brought his side level seven minutes from time when he converted Tomas Rosicky's right-wing cross. Thierry Henry won the game with a stoppage-time header.
