Ferguson admits he wants Mourinho to stay

LONDON, May 6, 2007 (AFP) - Alex Ferguson admits he would be sorry to see the back of arch-rival Jose Mourinho despite the two managers' recent war of words.
Mourinho's future has been thrown into doubt at Chelsea following the London club's exit from the Champions League and failure to keep track with Ferguson's Manchester United in the Premiership title race.
Failure to beat Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium 24 hours after United beat neighbours City in the Manchester derby will bring an end to Chelsea's two-year reign of champions ahead of Ferguson's side's visit to face Mourinho and his players on May 9.
Chelsea's recent slips have been accompanied by a growing number of Mourinho outbursts that prompted Ferguson to hit back angrily in response to the Portuguese's claim that United were being favoured by the football authorities and referees.
Then the Scot delivered an even stronger rebuke when his opposite number indulged in a verbal spat with United winger Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ferguson is convinced Mourinho's job is safe and while he wants to draw a line under the current row, he admits that the Chelsea manager's public mutterings bring an added dimension to the battle for supremacy in the Premiership.
"I think that you should always leave it to the players to settle things," Ferguson said. "But sometimes with Jose there is a continual dialogue that you quite enjoy having a wee go back. Maybe it adds more to the actual game.
"Sometmes we can get to intense about matches and get too focused on the game itself. He maybe brings another agenda which you can join in if you want to or you can sit back and admire what he has got to say.
And he added: "I don't pay attention to the talk about Jose's future. I don't think there is a great substance to these reports. I think he will be there next year."
Ferguson insists he will be happy to enjoy a post-match drink with Mourinho at Stamford Bridge no matter what the outcome and believes that the challenge from Chelsea will be even stronger next season - although he warned a repeat of the big money deals of the past will be no guarantee of success.
"I don't know what they will do this summer but I am sure they will buy three or four players like they have every year. And they have not been short on paying out incredible sums of money. So I don't know what they will do but I am sure with the money they have behind them they will not be left short in that respect.
"I think it's been proved time and time again that buying big doesn't always work. Bbut if you are buying real quality players then you expect to get success."