Jose Mourinho has moved to draw a line under the debate over Avram Grant's appointment as Chelsea's director of football by insisting he is pleased with the management structure now in place at Stamford Bridge and, far from being frustrated by the new arrival, believes the Israeli will make his life "easier".

Grant, whose involvement had been instigated by the club's owner, Roman Abramovich, arrived from Portsmouth this month and will report to the chief executive, Peter Kenyon, with his duties nominally to liaise on and co-ordinate footballing matters across Chelsea's interests.

Mourinho had been resistant to the 51-year-old's arrival when it was first mooted in January but has stressed that their roles remain very different, though already he is acknowledging the benefits of Grant's work.

"We have talked about how things are going to go with the structure and I am happy," said Mourinho, who met Abramovich almost three weeks ago for clear-the-air talks. "I do the same thing. My work is exactly the same and does not change in any way. I have the same responsibilities, same power, same resources. But Avram makes my life easier. He is a good guy. He wants to help people, he does not want to create problems for people.

"His job, in general terms, is to help people in different areas in the club. I am happy to have him in our structure and, if I say I am happy, then I am happy. If I wasn't, then you would see me around the corner snarling."

Mourinho, who damaged a hamstring while playing for Chelsea's coaching staff against a media side on Thursday, sends his side out this evening against LA Galaxy at the Home Depot Center before their return home.

Muscle strains aside, the Portuguese said he was as content with life at Chelsea as he has been for some time. "Everything is going very well and I am relaxed," he said. "My players are fantastic, the new people arriving are great boys and have easily adapted to the group.

"It has been very professional the way we have worked for every minute in training on this trip.

"What they have been doing outside the football is top. It is perfect. Me, in my club, everything is perfect. Me and the people outside, I just simply don't care. I am not interested. We have had various episodes but I don't see any more. I don't want that. They do their work, I do mine.

"I don't interfere with them and I hope they don't interfere with us. I hope they respect us the way I want to respect them and let us go on our way."

After last season's distractions, when Mourinho's relationship with Abramovich degenerated to such an extent that it threatened the manager's future at the club, the Portuguese is convinced his side can make greater progress in the season ahead.

"I am optimistic about going further than before in all competitions," he added, despite winning the FA and League Cups last term, finishing as runners-up in the Premiership and reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League. "I have won trophies in the last five years of my career and always more than one each season. This happens for a reason. We want trophies and we want to improve."

Meanwhile, Mourinho has instructed his players to treat David Beckham with kid gloves tonight, provided the former England captain appears for his much awaited debut for the Galaxy.

Beckham is still suffering from an ankle injury sustained with the England squad last month and aggravated during his last few days with Real Madrid.

The Galaxy medical staff had been encouraged that the swelling on the left ankle has receded in the last few days but, while the 32-year-old admitted to being "devastated" at the thought of missing out tonight, his priority remains the long-term.

"I'm still having a lot of treatment and, at the moment, it doesn't look good for me being able to play because the swelling's still there," said Beckham. "I'm here for five years, obviously not just for the game on Saturday. It's great that Chelsea are here but it's more important for me personally that my ankle is right - and I don't think it's going to be right for this game. Maybe I will play some part towards the end of the game if it's all right."

Guardian Service