Jose Mourinho insisted he wants to remain Chelsea coach and said he hoped John Terry and Frank Lampard also stay at the club.
"I want to stay at Chelsea, I want to stay," Mourinho said on Friday, amid ongoing media speculation about a strained relationship with billionaire owner Roman Abramovich.
But Mourinho has a bigger problem right now: Can he convince England internationals Terry and Lampard to also stay?
"They are special players and special personalities," Mourinho said. "I would love to see them both be part of Chelsea history until the end."
Juventus is one of several clubs reportedly after midfielder Lampard, while central defender Terry is said to want better pay.
"My opinion is they belong to Chelsea, they belong to Chelsea history," Mourinho said. "Chelsea's success and history is with them. So when people have such strong links and feelings and success together, there is no reason for a change."
Chelsea won the last two Premier League titles and also two league cups in the past three years. But its main target remains success in the Champions League, with Chelsea hosting Valencia in the first leg of the quarter-finals on April 4.
Mourinho, who has a contract at Stamford Bridge until 2010, refused on Friday to directly address the reported rift with Abramovich.
Mourinho also denied he had problems with Chelsea academy director Frank Arnesen.
"I have no personal problems with him. He is not a `yes' man, so he does not say yes every time I want him to say yes. But the relationship is positive," Mourinho said.
He also expressed frustration at the club's inability to buy players during the last transfer window.
"December and January was a big problem for me because we had too many injuries and I was desperately needing at least one defensive player to give my team the balance it needed at the time," Mourinho said.
Lampard's agent Steve Kutner was photographed meeting officials from the Turin-based club outside a London restaurant on Wednesday, according to Friday's edition of Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport.
"It would be nice," Juventus sporting director Alessio Secco was quoted as saying of a possible deal. "But the problem, more than [Lampard's] price tag, is his wage."
Those wage demands would be around US$7.94 million a year after tax according to Gazzetta. Lampard has the option to buy out the remaining two years of his Chelsea contract at the end of this season.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely