Kenyon confirms Scolari will be safe even if Chelsea fail to land the major honours

13 April 2012

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon insists Luiz Felipe Scolari's job will be safe if the club fail to win the Premier League or Champions League next season.

The club's last three managers have all paid the price for failing to win football's biggest prizes since owner Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003.

But Kenyon is adamant Scolari will be given the time to make his mark at Stamford Bridge.

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Guarantees: Scolari will not be sacked for failing at home or abroad

He said: 'Felipe is our manager for a minimum of two years and we have another year option. That was the length of contract he wanted and that was good for both sides.

'We will give him all the support he needs to win and we can renew the contract at any time, so any talk that this somehow points to a lack of longevity is irrelevant.

'Felipe knows Chelsea is one of the most demanding jobs around and we want to win, not expect to win, one of the two major trophies and see progress in the style of play.

'If we don't win we will all be disappointed, him included. He knows that means he is under pressure to deliver but he welcomed that with open arms. As he said yesterday, he is no stranger to that pressure so he is not afraid of it.

'He says anything can happen in football but you start out with good intentions, we will give him the platform to realise those and that is why he was the outstanding choice.'

There was much speculation that Abramovich had even more influence on team affairs last season after Avram Grant succeeded Jose Mourinho.

Kenyon is keen to stress there is nothing sinister in Abramovich's influence and he will have a good relationship with Scolari.

He added: 'Roman has invested not only money but time and emotional investment in Chelsea and he has every right to know how we come to decisions.

'People misunderstand that for meddling or interfering. It is not. He likes to be engaged because he loves football.

'Felipe made it clear yesterday he wants an open relationship and that is not a problem for him. Maybe in the past that didn't happen and led to some issues.'

Kenyon said the fans can expect two more signings in the next few weeks, although he dismissed links to Kaka and Ronaldinho as speculation.

He also told the club's website that Chelsea are still committed to having a core of English players in the squad.

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