LONDON: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho revealed on Sunday that he and Stamford Bridge owner Roman Abramovich have held clear-the-air talks in an effort to repair their stormy relationship.

"I had a very good and long meeting with Abramovich at Stamford Bridge last week," Mourinho said in the News of the World. "It left everything clear between us so there is no doubt, no doubt at all. I know what he thinks, I know what he feels, I know what he wants.

"And he knows me as a person, as a manager and he knows the way I work. It was an easy, long and enjoyable meeting and I was more than delighted - the air is clear again and there is no problem.

"We have a professional relationship and we understand each other."

The two men fell out towards the end of last season as Chelsea's title challenge petered out leading to speculation that the Portuguese coach could quit in the summer.

But Mourinho, whose team will face David Beckham's Los Angeles Galaxy next Saturday on their tour of America, said he is determined to see out his contract, which expires in 2010.

"I am so happy here because England is at the top for football," he said.

"I am in my fourth season here and if I can carry on five, six, seven, eight years, then I will go on without a problem. I have no desire to change and try something different in Italy or Spain. I don't have that desire."

Mourinho added after three years in London, he has finally got round to buying a house.

"I didn't do that because I wanted to sell next week or because I am thinking about leaving very, very soon," he said.

"I want to stay - and if Chelsea had wanted to make a change, they would have done it by now."

AFP

(China Daily 07/16/2007 page11)