Roman jets in for Jose crisis summit

Roman Abramovich will fly to London today for crucial talks with Jose Mourinho and Peter Kenyon about the future of Chelsea Football Club.

Mourinho's mood has improved following a lengthy meeting between his agent, Jorge Mendes, and Kenyon at Stamford Bridge yesterday but there remain crucial differences between him and the club on several issues.

Chelsea are confident they have got Mourinho back on side and he has accepted the club's decision not to appeal against his UEFA touchline ban, but the manager has scored one important victory. The 42-year-old called Mendes over from Portugal on Sunday evening with the brief of organising talks with Abramovich and, after getting Kenyon's blessing, that meeting will take place today.

The Russian billionaire usually flies in on the day of Champions League games, but such is his concern that he has agreed to meet with the manager 24 hours before they face Bayern Munich.

Mourinho was reassured by several aspects of yesterday's meeting between Mendes and Kenyon but is still uneasy about the club's reluctance to defend him in public and will outline these concerns to Abramovich.

Despite the stand-off, Mourinho still enjoys good relations with Kenyon and plc chairman Bruce Buck, with the disagreements stemming from cultural rather than personal issues. A source close to the manager said: "Jose understands the position of the club and doesn't want to make matters worse. He only wants the best for the club and the team. Everything is peaceful, as the club have clarified certain situations.

"Jose is more happy now but still doesn't understand certain aspects of club policy. We'll see what happens when Abramovich arrives." Mourinho remains furious at the two-match touchline ban that will prevent him from speaking to his players during both Champions League quarterfinals against Bayern Munich but gave his support to a club statement explaining their decision not to appeal.

The statement said: "In our view an appeal would interrupt crucial preparation for the Bayern matches and, under the rules, could lead to a further ban for Jose Mourinho. This decision has been taken with that in mind."

Mourinho has grudgingly accepted that the club are acting in his best interests but is still considering taking personal legal action against UEFA, having taken advice from the Bosman lawyer Jean-Louis Dupont.