Chelsea deny Mourinho quit reports

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LONDON, England -- Chelsea have denied reports that manager Jose Mourinho is to quit the Premier League champions at the end of the season.

The frustrated Blues boss is reported to have told a close friend that he will leave Stamford Bridge in May, the Sun newspaper claimed.

"That's it. I'm going at the end of the season... I don't know where yet," Mourinho is reported to have said.

But Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon, on a business trip to China, denied the reports. "This is an old story that is being re-run. I think it is probably because we are six points behind Manchester United, " said chief executive Peter Kenyon.

Mourinho also found support from an unlikely source on Friday with Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson telling reporters that it would be a shame if his Portuguese rival departed.

"I take that with a pinch of salt and I think the important thing is to make sure I'm still the manager of our club come May."

But he added: "It would be disappointing for me, because I have enjoyed his company (Mourinho) the times we met after the game.

"I think he has got a good personality and I enjoy the competition against him."

Speculation about a Mourinho's disenchantment at Chelsea surfaced earlier in the week after they were disappointingly held 1-1 by Wycombe in the first leg of the League Cup semifinal.

Injuries and suspensions have stretched Chelsea's star-studded squad and Mourinho is clearly frustrated.

"I have asked for players and it's not my choice that no one is coming. It's not my club, I am just a manager," he said. "I expect my squad to be the same at the end of the transfer window as it was at the start."

A rift is also reported to have opened up between Mourinho and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, and there has been suggestions that the Russian tycoon will seek to bring Dutchman Guus Hiddink, currently in charge of Russia, to London at the end of this season if Mourinho fails to deliver victory in the Champions League.

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