Bayern deny Mourinho interest

Jose Mourinho looks increasingly likely to remain at Stamford Bridge after Bayern Munich became the latest club to deny an interest in the Portuguese coach.

Mourinho insists he will be staying at Chelsea, seeing out a contract which expires in three years time.

But persistent speculation has once again put the spotlight on the Chelsea coach’s future intentions, with some even touting a possible move in the summer.

Bayern were the latest club to be mentioned when Felix Magath’s successor, Ottmar Hitzfeld, claimed he would only manage the German giants until the end of the season.

That sparked suggestions Mourinho could be the man to lead the Munich club back to glory but Bayern’s managing director, Uli Hoeness, furiously denied that talks had already begun with Mourinho’s agent Jorge Mendes.

Hoeness said: “I neither called Mourinho nor his adviser or contacted them in any way.

“If the adviser claims that I did, then he is lying. All these speculations are simply not true.”

The Bundesliga champions axed Magath last week, before installing Hitzfeld but their poor season continued with defeat to Nurnberg and they are now 11 points behind leaders Schalke.

Chelsea were today waiting for the results of scans on Wayne Bridge’s injured thigh after the left-back pulled out of England duty with the problem.

But although Bridge’s injury will leave Mourinho without a specialist left-back until he returns, those worries will be eased by the imminent return of Khalid Boulahrouz.

The Dutchman, although preferring a central role, can play on the left-hand side of defence.

Crucially though, captain John Terry is certain to return to the back four against Middlesbrough on Saturday, adding to the recent return of goalkeeper Petr Cech from a fractured skull.

Terry’s deputy skipper Frank Lampard, Chelsea’s goal hero in the victory over Charlton on Saturday, said: “You have seen the importance of Petr coming back. That’s what we have missed when he has been out so long. He has made two great saves.

“For many people he is the best goalkeeper in the word and he certainly is for me. It is a confidence boost to everyone to have him behind us.

“It is great to see John (Terry) on the pitch as well. He has come on a lot in the last couple of weeks after a very difficult injury.

“Any club would have missed those two players. That is not an excuse, it is just a fact and unfortunately we missed them at a critical time. We would have had more points on the board if they had been playing.”

Cech, meanwhile, is confident that he has overcome the critics who doubted he would ever return to his best following his injury.

It was feared Cech would never play again but after three months out and having overcome surgery on his shattered skull, the Czech international is adamant he has proved the doubters wrong.

Cech said: “I was doing my best to return with a good psyche and good fitness. I am glad that I have proved to people who might have doubted me that it is possible to get back.

“I have started to feel well since the Carling Cup semi-final against Wycombe. From game to game, I have been feeling better and better, and I have been getting into good form.

“Of course, the four clean sheets have improved my self-confidence. I am slowly getting into my regular shape. I have enjoyed every game since my return.”

Meanwhile England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips claims none of the players are bothered about continuing speculation over players or the future of the coach.

Wright-Phillips said: “At the end of the day, everyone has the right to their own opinion.

“People can say whatever they want and we can say what we want, but the bottom line is we are still second in the league and in all competitions. That’s the positive we focus on, regardless of whatever anyone else says.

“Everyone gets on like a house on fire, we all do things together and no-one is left out. It obviously shows how very happy the camp is.”