Manager Jose Mourinho is determined to cling on to his FA Cup winner's medal after Chelsea's win over Manchester United at the new Wembley stadium.

Mourinho tossed his Premiership winner's medal into the Stamford Bridge crowd at the end of last season.

But he said: "I won't be throwing this one away, it means a lot, it's the FA Cup and it's the first one for me.

"It means we have won every title in English football in the three years I have been at the club."

Mourinho paid tribute to his players after Didier Drogba's late goal sealed victory.

He added: "The players deserve it so much because of the difficult season they have had.

"This a moment for everyone to enjoy and we deserve to go into the holiday period with this cup

"I think we played very well and the players understood the plan we had for this game."

"The ball was behind the line, but it would have been a foul anyway." Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech

Goalscorer Drogba claimed his side's FA Cup win was scant consolation for their Premiership and Champions League disappointments this season.

Drogba said: "This doesn't make up for the League and Champions League - and we want our title back.

"But I love finals, you only reach them to win, and this was a very difficult game against a fantastic team.

"I was looking for this first goal against Manchester United for two years and it happened today. Now we just want to celebrate."

Chelsea skipper John Terry said the Wembley victory will be the springboard for the Blues to reclaim their Premiership title next season.

"We have signed off the season on a high note and that makes me very proud," he said. "We kept going right until the end and this is what this team is all about.

"We're disappointed about the League and the Champions League but we will come back even stronger next year."

606: DEBATE It wasn't the greatest final but I'm glad it didn't go to penalties and it was a quality goal that settled it BH

Chelsea keeper Petr Cech praised his team-mates' spirit.

"We deserve credit because we have had so many problems this season," he stated.

"It's always difficult when you chase all competitions and get knocked out, I can't even say how many emotions I have, it has been an incredible season for me.

"It was a very tactical game and I think there was fatigue but we had great motivation."

Cech added: "I've heard a lot about the FA Cup and this feeling is amazing. We have been chasing all four trophies. We lost a semi-final (Champions League) on penalties and we lost the Premiership at the last moment so this Cup is a real achievement."

And the goalkeeper rejected any suggestion that United should have had a goal when Ryan Giggs seemed to force him over his goal-line with the ball in his hands.

"The ball was behind the line," Cech admitted "but it would have been a foul anyway."

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However, Cech's team-mate Frank Lampard added: "As the ball came in I thought it was in. For me, it was a goal."

England midfielder Lampard also revealed he wants to stay at Chelsea "forever" in the wake of the FA Cup win.

Speculation has surrounded Lampard's future at the club, with reports suggesting contract talks had stalled.

But he pointed to the Chelsea fans at Wembley and said: "These are my people and I want to stay.

"This is my club and I hope I can sort it out soon because I want to stay forever."

Video of the game - Semifinals - Liverpool v Chelsea

José Mourinho claims penalty to Liverpool

Chelsea 1 - 0 Liverpool

"I don't understand how we don't have penalties," he told Sky television, reprising a theme he had opened on Sunday after a ball struck Stephen Carr's arm in the goalless draw at Newcastle United. "When the penalties are so clear, I don't understand. I go for the facts and it's a fact.

"In the Champions League this season we have good referees and to be fair to Mr Merk he was comfortable. But the penalty is a big chance for us to be 2-0. Then it would be a completely different game and a different story. I feel it is not fair."

He added that controversy had cost his side in the teams' last Champions League semi-final meeting in 2005 when a goal was awarded even though William Gallas appeared to have cleared Luis García's shot from the line.

"They had their mistake but it was not a penalty," he said of last night's incident. "I hope after the second leg we are not crying and thinking again about a big decision. Two years ago we were. I hope we are not looking back on the penalty."

He later tempered his comments but they had been particularly strong. Rafael Benítez was dismissive. "If he says it was a penalty, I am sure it was a penalty," he said with unmistakeable irony.

The pair pursued the spat that has been a diversion from the often dreary football between the teams. Mourinho believes Liverpool have the advantage in the return because his side's title-chasing endeavours will require maximum application against Bolton on Saturday. "In two days' time Liverpool play Portsmouth and it is not an important game for them," he said, having previously claimed that Liverpool had played "only four games" in 2007 because of their inability to compete for the title. Benítez was again dismissive, saying: "We are playing against Portsmouth and someone says that is not important but we will try to win."

Benítez retains belief in his team's chances of reaching the final because they were the last team to beat Chelsea, 2-0 at Anfield on January 20. "I don't know who's favourite," he said. "We need to win against a good team that likes to counter-attack. But we have the supporters there. We want to win and the last result between the teams gives us a good feeling."

What do you thing about Mourinho claim? It's penalty or not?

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"Please don't call me arrogant, but I'm European champion and I think I'm a special one."


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