• Premier League

Mourinho sparks new Premier League return hopes

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho insists he will return to coaching in the Premier League "one day" after praising the influence his time at Chelsea has had on his career.

Mourinho spent four years at Stamford Bridge, leading the Blues to two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, two League Cups and the Community Shield.

Real Madrid slipped 18 points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona after a 0-0 draw with Osasuna on Saturday and Mourinho has been linked with a move away from the Bernabeu over the last few months.

Chelsea have been put on alert as the future of interim boss Rafa Benitez remains uncertain and although Mourinho has constantly praised English football, his tribute video for the Football Association's 150th anniversary suggests he is ready to leave Spain.

"There could not be a better place to go," said Mourinho. "In England you feel the real passion for the game. It's not just about passion for clubs, it's mainly about passion for football.

"My memories are great. I loved it from the first day to the last. I don't regret my last day because after that I was lucky enough to enjoy Italy and to have and enjoy some success there and also in Spain. But I know that one day I will come back because English football means a lot to myself."

Mourinho highlights Chelsea's FA Cup win over Manchester United in 2007 as one of the most prestigious moments of his illustrious career and his fervent love of the English game was apparent in his memory of the domestic tournament.

"I know what I felt when I had to go up the Wembley stairs to get the FA Cup," he said. "The FA Cup represents the passion of football. It represents clean football. It represents the good smell of football.

"If you are in England, you feel it. You feel proud to be in football - even in the worst moments. That's pure football. That's the football you play as a kid in the street transported through time and space into organised competition and into the real world of football."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.