Mourinho: I shall return

Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has vowed to one day return to the Barclays Premier League.

The Portuguese tactician left the club by mutual consent on Thursday and has been replaced by Avram Grant.

"Yes, for sure I want (to)," he said when asked if he would return to England. "I don't want it in my next step. I don't want to leave Chelsea and go immediately to another door. I think my next step must be another country, must be another experience, another football.

"But I am 44, I hope I have many years in front of me. I love English football and I don't change a single word I've said before."

salt and pepper

Mourinho also had kind words for journalists and rival managers.

"The English press, if you understand their philosophy, it was very funny to play their game. Salt and pepper every day," he said.

"Other managers, great people, top people. Very supportive and very nice to me. In football terms, a fantastic period of my career. I want to be back but not the next step."

Meanwhile, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says Mourinho's departure is a loss for the English game.

He said: "Jose leaving Chelsea is a disappointment for the game. He brought something fresh and new and I enjoyed the competition with him. I will miss the personal challenge.

"He enjoyed unparalleled success at Chelsea and it will be a big test for whoever replaces him. At the moment that person is Avram Grant."