Chelsea Football Club News

• Nickname:Blues
• Founded:1905
• Manager:Roberto Di Matteo

• Ground:Stamford Bridge
• Capacity:42,440

Mourinho still backing SWP

11 Aug 2006 - 13:25:44

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Jose Mourinho has tipped Shaun Wright-Phillips to make a big impact at Chelsea in the coming season.

The 24-year-old endured a poor first campaign at Stamford Bridge following his £21million move from Manchester City and his lack of regular first-team football cost him a place in England's World Cup squad.

Several Premiership clubs enquired about Wright-Phillips' availability over the summer, but Mourinho decided against selling him because he believes the youngster has the character to bounce back from last season's disappointments.

"He understood the reasons why we didn't let him go," said the Chelsea manager.

"We want to keep him because we trust him, because we know the first season sometimes is not easy, especially when you are a player without big experience at a high level.

"He is not a Ballack or a Shevchenko, he is a young boy coming from Man City with half a dozen caps and no matches in the Champions League.

"He is a player who needs what happened to him last season and this was really positive."