Mourinho pledges future to Blues...again

FA Cup / Editor / 20 May 2007 / Leave a Comment

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has assured Blues fans, and those who have backed him to stay, that he will be at Stamford Bridge next season.

Speculation has been rife all season that the Portuguese tactician would be leaving for pastures new, possibly Real Madrid, in the summer and rumours of a fall-out between the boss and club owner Roman Abramovich did little to quell those suggestions.

Having won back-to-back Premiership titles in his first two seasons in charge, finishing second to arch-rivals Manchester United this term could be seen as failure for Mourinho, especially as they failed to make the final of the Champions League.

But Saturday's FA Cup triumph, courtesy of Didier Drogba's late extra-time winner, prompted the controversial manager to pledge his future, once again to the west London giants.

"As for the speculation," he commented, when asked about his future plans, "if people have doubts what can I do?

"I have a contract, I want to stay at the club, and they have told me they want me to stay.

"I have three years of a relationship with Peter Kenyon and I look on them as honourable people, not as liars so when they say publicly I'm going to be Chelsea manager next season I have no reason to doubt them."

Having been matched to small stakes at 3.85 in the 'Mourinho to stay' market, the colourful coach is now trading at 1.35 to remain with his present employers next season, with 'No' offered at 3.05.