• Premier League

Mourinho ready to help save England team

Jose Mourinho insists he is committed to the future of English football © Getty Images

Enlarge

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho insists he is "more than happy" to sit down with FA chairman Greg Dyke and contribute his plans to help the future of English football.

Mourinho has expressed his desire to see the English national team succeed, particularly with a number of Chelsea players involved in the Three Lions setup.

He is adamant helping his international representatives is a key part of his role at Stamford Bridge and is hopeful he can assist in getting things back on track.

When asked if he cared about the England team, Mourinho said: "I care, I care. I want my players to be selected, to give everything for the national team. I would never say to a player with a small injury 'don't go, stay here, forget the national team'.

"When the telephone rings and it is somebody connected with the national team I pick up the phone with pleasure. I want to help my academy. I want to support them. I want to give my little contribution to improve everything there to try to bring English players to the top. I care, I care a lot.

"The only match I want England to lose is England v Portugal. All the other matches I want them to succeed. I have three players there at the time but if I can have four, five or six I would like to have four, five or six."

Mourinho also commented on Dyke's recent speech in which he suggested the foreign legion of players in the Premier League is damaging the prospects of young homegrown players.

The 50-year-old used a young English player he had once tracked as a comparison to the value available if managers look abroad for recruits.

"The position he is in the market is like he has 50 caps when he has zero caps," he added. "The price for English players in the market is very, very difficult. You go to a Portuguese club in a difficult situation and you buy cheap. You go to Spain where some clubs are the richest in the world but some are in a difficult situation and you make an offer and you also get the player for a reasonable price."

Download ESPN's new UK sport app, a fresh and powerful new way to follow your favourite UK sports news, scores and video.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd