Kenyon: We want to be loved

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon is looking for Chelsea to be 'loved'.

Despite their wonderful play in recent seasons, the Premiership champions have attracted negative headlines from numerous incidents including the tapping up of Ashley Cole and the approach to Sven Goran Eriksson.

Kenyon insists Chelsea never look to create any headlines other than those that come from their achievements.

"Everybody likes to be loved, don't they?" he said.

"Of course I'd do things differently. We didn't set out to create those headlines; being in a restaurant - whether it's Sven [Goran Eriksson], whether it's Ashley [Cole], you wouldn't want to do that again.

"I don't think we want to be seen as arrogant, we don't consciously go out there to be controversial.

"We would be disappointed if that was a tag that stuck. There are certain people who would take great pleasure in being hated but we would rather be liked than disliked. But equally we are committed to making Chelsea one of the very best clubs in Europe.

"There is all this talk about Chelsea dominating and killing football but you only have to look at United's domination and we are not even close.

"People look at the strength, age and stability of our squad and that upsets them. We are very together. People cannot see beyond this continuing."

Kenyon was speaking at a local community project and he insists that The Blues have a strong commitment to their public.

"If you look at how Chelsea has been perceived over the years it's been that cool, King's Road club, in London, a stylish, trendy type thing, what's happened is that's been superseded or added to by the whole money tag," he said.

"I'm not sure we're going to change it but I think football in general's responsibility to the community has improved dramatically over the last 10 years and Chelsea's done as much and probably more than anybody else."

Kenyon spoke again on the tug-of-war with Manchester United over Nigerian John Obi Mikel.

United have accused Chelsea of hijacking their deal for the 18-year-old, who penned a deal with The Red Devils - but has since insisted that he wants to move to Stamford Bridge.

 "We have been dragged into this on the basis that the player wants to come to us," added Kenyon. 

"If all that gets sorted out, and he becomes available, we would like to sign him."