Mourinho and Abramovich make peace

Perhaps it really is time for Chelsea's rivals to worry. Peace has broken out at Stamford Bridge. After a season marked by apparent internal strife, Jose Mourinho and Roman Abramovich have settled their differences and the Russian billionaire seems content for his Portuguese manager to stay at the helm.

"I had a very good and long meeting with [Abramovich] last week," Mourinho said at the Beverly Hills Hotel before Chelsea played Club America in Los Angeles last night. "It left everything clear between us so there is no doubt at all. I know what he thinks, I know what he feels and I know what he wants."

After a season of two domestic cup successes but failure to secure the Premiership or the Champions' League, what Abramovich will want is a title. Only being the best will do.

"It was an easy, long and enjoyable meeting and I was more than delighted. The air is clear again and there is no problem," Mourninho said, obviously relieved that the six months of silence between the pair has finally been broken.

Not that it is all sweetness and light even now. Mourinho spoke of a "professional relationship" and the pair understanding each other. But he does plan to see through his contract to 2010 and may stay longer. He has at last bought his own home in London after years of renting.

"I am in my fourth season here and if I can carry on five, six, seven, eight years, then I will go on without any problem," Mourinho said. "I have no desire to change and try something else in Italy or Spain. I do not have that desire."

Nor do his superstars have the desire to go elsewhere. He called it the club's most important victory that they would be staying. After all the dramatic talk this summer of John Terry and Frank Lampard moving on, Andriy Shevchenko heading back to Italy, Didier Drogba wanting a new challenge and Arjen Robben being sold off, all of them will be staying - at least that is what Mourinho expects.

Robben is the main doubt among those, with Real Madrid interested, and Mourinho admitted: "I don't think Robben will go but if he does it is because in the fianncial and business side I can't say 'stop'."

But he thinks that he and Chelsea will be able to say "stop" to Manchester United as Sir Alex Ferguson tries to retain the Premier League title after a little role reversal - United have spent big while Chelsea have paid out only £13.5 million for Florent Malouda. "Will we be better than Manchester United this season? Why not? I think nobody has a better squad than Chelsea."

This peace sounds very much like a war cry.

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