Sir Alex Ferguson expects title rival Jose Mourinho to still be in charge of Chelsea at the start of next season.
Mourinho's future has been the subject of intense speculation since the New Year following an apparent bust-up with owner Roman Abramovich.
It was claimed Mourinho and Abramovich were no longer on speaking terms, amid a rift over a failure to provide the manager with cash to reinforce his defence in January when John Terry was injured and the owner's frustration at the relative lack of involvement of £30million striker Andriy Shevchenko.
Ferguson did not take much notice of those reports and Peter Kenyon, who quit United to become Blues chief executive, did not cut much ice with the Scot either when he claimed Mourinho would not be sacked.
Yet the Old Trafford chief is confident Mourinho will remain in his job when the new campaign gets underway next August.
"I think Mourinho will be there next year," said Ferguson.
"I haven't really paid any attention to talk about his future because, in all the time Roman Abramovich has been in this country, I have never heard him say anything.
"He never comments on anything so how anyone has got information on Jose's future is beyond me. I don't think there is a great substance to these reports and I am sure he will be here next year."
In contrast to his fractious relationship with Arsene Wenger, Ferguson has always appeared to get on well with Mourinho.
As recently as last month the pair exchanged text messages in the aftermath of their side's respective Champions League wins over Roma and Valencia, while Ferguson took the unprecedented step of ordering his players to form a guard of honour to applaud Chelsea onto the Old Trafford pitch two years ago to honour the Londoners' first title in 50 years.
But their relationship seemed to have taken a serious downturn in recent days, with Ferguson reacting furiously first to Mourinho's jibe about the lack of penalties awarded against United, then the Chelsea manager's damning rebuke about Cristiano Ronaldo's lack of education.
Ferguson insists he was correct to take a stand against Mourinho.
However, he does not believe the recent spat will affect relations between the pair and is looking forward to sharing a glass of wine with his sparring partner when United head to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
"We all have our own opinions," said Ferguson. "I don't think our relationship has been affected. I will still have a glass of wine with him. If I am invited I will attend."
Indeed, there is a definite sense that Ferguson quite enjoys having Mourinho around, sometimes to engage in banter with, other times to just watch and smile.
"Jose has this continual dialogue and sometimes it is enjoyable to have a go back," said the Red Devils chief.
"Maybe we can get a bit too focused on matches and too intense about the game. Jose brings another agenda which you can join in if you want to or just sit back and enjoy what he has to say if you don't."
Having declared his intention to remain at Old Trafford for another couple of seasons at least, Ferguson expects to be going head-to-head with Mourinho for a while yet.
For, while many pundits expect Liverpool and Arsenal to mount a more sustained title challenge next year than they have done this time around, Ferguson believes Chelsea will remain the team his own side must overcome.
"Given the financial structure Chelsea have, it is hard to imagine they won't be here for a while," said Ferguson.
"Buying big does not necessarily mean you will be successful. You only have to see the trouble Leeds are in now for an example of that. But when you buy players of real quality, as Chelsea have, you expect to get success.
"I don't know what they will do this summer but I am sure they will buy three or four players.
"They have done it every other summer and have not been short at paying out incredible sums of money in the process."
