Jose plots England return

Jose Mourinho says he will return to England when he leaves Real Madrid - but reckons he will not get the chance to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

Last Updated: 13/02/13 at 19:33 Post Comment    Bet with SkyBet  Which English club will Jose Mourinho manage next? Win Special: Manchester City 6/1

Mourinho, whose side face United in Wednesday's UEFA Champions League last-16 first leg, is tipped to leave the Bernabeu in the summer after a dismal Spanish title defence and amid reports he has fallen out with several key players.

The former Chelsea boss refused to clarify whether or not he would be at Real next season but confirmed his desire to be back in the Premier League.

He told reporters: "I will go back to England after Real Madrid. We will see (when that is).

"I love everything (about England). England will be my next step."

Mourinho has been linked with Manchester City and former club Chelsea but joked he would not take over from 71-year-old Ferguson.

"No," he said, when asked if he could replace the Scot. "I think we have to end our career at the same time. Him at 90 and me at 70."

Real are a massive 16 points behind arch-rivals Barcelona in La Liga but Mourinho warned his critics to hold fire, insisting he was gunning to steer the club to a record 10th Champions League crown.

"At the end we can assess the season," he added.

"There are great clubs in the world who have never won this competition.

"Real Madrid have won nine, I have won two. Real Madrid wants to win its 10th. I want my third."

Mourinho insists he is still enjoying his work and midfielder Michael Essien claimed the manager always has a smile on his face.

However, there is no escaping his fractious relationship with those who follow Madrid's fortunes so closely, as he pointed out when asked to comment on the Spanish newspaper depiction of Wayne Rooney as a "hooligan" this morning.

"I didn't read it," said Mourinho. "I don't know if it was written in that context, calling him a hooligan, or completely different.

"But if I can say one thing on behalf of Rooney, I was called worse than that, week by week."

You can only watch the best UEFA Champions League coverage here on Sky Sports. Watch Real Madrid v Manchester United exclusively live on Sky Sports 2HD and Sky Go from 6:00pm on Wednesday 13th February. Click here for more details and watch goals from United's route to the last 16.

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