Mourinho Plays Down Talk of Robben Departure

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has played down reports that Arjen Robben is set to leave the club, likening his situation to those of John Terry or Frank Lampard - the two other high-profile players at Stamford Bridge with two years left on their existing deals.

Robben played 45 minutes of Chelsea's 1-0 win over Korean side Suwon Bluewings - settled by a Didier Drogba goal - but has so far refused to extend his current deal and has been repeatedly linked with a move to the Spanish champions Real Madrid. The arrival of France winger Florent Malouda this month has served to intensify speculation, but Mourinho, while refusing to rule out a move, did not seem overly-concerned at the post-match press conference.

"The latest with Robben is that 10 minutes ago he finished the game," said Mourinho. "At the moment he is a Chelsea player with two more years of contract and he is working well. For me, he is a player like Terry or Lampard with two more years of contract. I look at him as a Chelsea player and he has to compete against very good wingers like we have. I am happy with the situation."

All three players mentioned by Mourinho are currently negotiating new deals and he insisted Chelsea would go all out to retain their services. "The club wants to keep the players, to do everything," added Mourinho. "I trust the board and [the chief executive] Peter Kenyon in the negotiations he is doing. I know the players want to stay. I want the players and would be happy if they signed new contracts.

"The club have the right to say 'this is our limit'. The players have the right to say 'if I don't like the contract I don't sign it'. I have no problems with the club, I have no problems with the players. As a coach, I just think if they have a contract then they are Chelsea players and I look at them the same as a player with five or six years contract."