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LONDON - Manager Jose Mourinho said he expected to remain at Chelsea next season after the champions beat fourth division Wycombe Wanderers 4-0 today and 5-1 on aggregate to earn a place in next month's League Cup final.
The controversial coach, at the centre of barrage of media
speculation that he might leave the club after disagreements with billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, also praised under-performing striker Andriy Shevchenko who scored twice for his first goals in seven weeks.
Mourinho told a news conference injured captain John Terry, who could be back in the side next week, was close to signing a new contract and had asked his manager whether he planned to stay next season.
"I told him, I think so," Mourinho said.
The Portuguese, who has led Chelsea to back to back titles since his arrival in 2004, has struggled with injuries to his squad in recent weeks and wanted to buy some cover but Chelsea's board has been reluctant to spend more money.
Chelsea have fallen six points behind Manchester United in the Premier League leading to more tension, especially over Shevchenko, who is a friend of Abramovich but who Mourinho has often left on the bench.
On Wednesday, Mourinho said of the former European player of the year: "He was brilliant in the game. His attitude was very good. In this (match) he won the right to be in the lineup for Sunday."
Mourinho greeted Shevchenko with a warm handshake when he came off in contrast to previous games where he was ignored.
"If they work and they perform I love them, if they do not work and they do not perform, I hate them," he explained.
"Sometimes you kiss, sometimes you kick," he said.
"I don't kick, I ignore. He is a good boy, he needs happiness. I think this game can give him bit of happiness."
Mourinho added: "He accepts my philosophy as his philosophy. It's a process not a click. He is arriving where we want him to arrive... I'm very happy Sheva got the message."
Chelsea play Arsenal or Tottenham Hotspur in the final on February 25 and are also in the hunt for silverware in the FA Cup, in which they play Nottingham Forest in the fourth round on Sunday and in the Champions League.
- REUTERS
