Speaking after a training session for Sunday's League Cup final against Arsenal, Mourinho scotched rumours that have circulated since the new year that he might resign.

"No chance," he said. "I would not do that to Chelsea supporters."

"There are two ways for me to leave Chelsea, one is in June 2010 at the end of my contract, the second way is for Chelsea to sack me."

The 44-year-old manager was in relaxed mood, suggesting much publicised tensions between his coaching staff, owner Roman Abramovich and the Chelsea board over players he wanted to sign and roles within the hierarchy, had eased.

Chairman Bruce Buck said last week he wanted the outspoken Portuguese to stay.

Mourinho said Chelsea's injury woes, including long periods without inspirational captain John Terry, had made his job tougher than in the last two seasons when they won the Premier League.

But, paradoxically, he found the situation had been in some ways more rewarding.

"It's enjoyable," he said, adding that after Terry twisted his ankle in the Champions League against Porto on Wednesday, he had to think fast and change tactics completely. "From a manager's point of view, the experience was very rich for me."

Terry will be fit to return next weekend. On Sunday Mourinho welcomes back defender Ashely Cole after a cruciate ligament injury and winger Arjen Robben, who was substituted in Porto with a muscle strain.

Midfielder Joe Cole (foot) and defender Khalid Boulahrouz (shoulder) are on the long-term injury list.

Mourinho, who has a history of niggling disagreements with Arsene Wenger, was full of praise for his Arsenal counterpart on Friday, especially of his ability to bring on the young players who have taken the team to the League Cup final.

But he added that in Arsenal's case the "young boys" were also top players.

He said he agreed with Wenger that winning the Champions League as Mourinho did with Porto, did not make a great manager.

There were great managers such as the Arsenal coach who had not won that trophy.

But, with echoes of his famous "special one" declaration on arrival from Porto in 2004, he placed himself alongside Wenger at the top of the game.

"Not many have done what I have done... I'm not saying I'm the best, I'm saying I'm among the eight, 10, 12, 14 who have done similar things.

"What I did in Portugal was unique. I'm the best in the history of my country. I came to England... I won the first championship in 50 years for Chelsea. I won twice in a row... and I have a few records in the Premiership," he said.

Chelsea are still competing on four fronts: Champions League, Premier League -- chasing Manchester United, FA Cup and League Cup, with Sunday's final the least prestigious.

But Mourinho said he did not have to motivate himself for the trophy they beat Liverpool to win in 2005.

"It was the first competition I won in England... It's a great day, for us and for the fans. The stadium is half and half, the atmosphere is great," he said.