Abramovich seal of approval puts lid on the Cup for players

Abramovich went round all of Jose Mourinho's players to shake hands and offer congratulations after Didier Drogba's late winner in extra-time.

Scroll down for more

The move delighted Chelsea's players, who are taking it as a sign that Mourinho will stay on next season.

Abramovich watched virtually every game in the first two years of Mourinho's reign, but the club owner has been absent for long periods this season as the pair were split about the lack of money for new signings in the January transfer window.

His non-appearance at the Champions League semi-final, second-leg exit at Liverpool was particularly noticeable.

However, it was Chelsea rather than Manchester who were united and midfielder Frank Lampard said: "He [Abramovich] came in and congratulated everyone.

"He made a point of shaking everyone by the hand to say well done.

"It has been a long, tough season but we had to keep going because the reward at the end of it was so great. Chelsea were the last team to win the FA Cup at Wembley and we wanted to do it again.

"The FA Cup Final has to be at Wembley - it is a magnificent stadium."

Mourinho dashed down the tunnel after the final whistle to phone his wife in Portugal, but reappeared to claim that Chelsea had deserved to deny United the Double, and that he would be around for the next campaign.

He said: "It was a big victory for us and for me, and at moments like this I think immediately of my wife and my kids. There was no phone on the bench and I went to make a couple of phone calls. As for the speculation [about his future], if people have doubts what can I do?

"I have a contract, I want to stay at the club and they have told me they want me to stay.

"I have three years of a relationship with Peter Kenyon and I look on them as honourable people, not as liars, so when they say publicly I'm going to be Chelsea manager next season I have no reason to doubt them.

"I'm moving house, but not to Portugal but in London because my address has been shown on television. I'm very happy with the club, I love the football in this country.

"If the club is not happy with me I think I will be the first in line to know because I'm working with honest people.

"On July 9 in Los Angeles, we start our pre-season and I will be there.'

The Chelsea manager insisted there was no issue with Abramovich.

"I mentioned him in my programme notes, as I know Wembley was also a target for him and, if I have room in my mind for him before a game like this, it is because we are not enemies."

Lampard admitted that, as the clock ticked down, he feared a repeat of Chelsea's penalty shoot-out heartbreak against Liverpool in the Champions League.

"We didn't want a shoot-out because we know it is a lottery and the semi-final at Liverpool was in our minds."

'Thank God Didier scored and if anyone deserves the credit of getting a goal at Wembley, it is him. He has scored so many winners this season. He was a hero today - and so were the whole team.'