Mourinho commits to Madrid in spite of club tensions

(AP)

Jose Mourinho is ready to disappoint a host of English clubs after stating last night that he intends to see out the final three years of his contract at Real Madrid.

Mourinho had been expected to leave Madrid in the summer after a blazing row in January with the club's general director, Jorge Valdano, over player acquisitions. But the pair have made their peace and now Mourinho is talking about staying at the Bernabeu before returning to England, where he won two Premier League titles as manager of Chelsea.

Mourinho said: "My future is Real Madrid because I have a contract and it looks like the club is happy with my work. My future will be England, for sure, but that future is after Real Madrid. At the moment I have a contract for three more seasons and I hope I do well enough to deserve to continue here."

Mourinho said Tottenham will need to score at least six goals if they are to go through tonight, as he expects his Madrid side to go for goals even though they lead 4-0 from the first leg. "We have to play with respect for football because sometimes football can betray you. But at the same time I don't think five goals is enough for Tottenham because we are coming here to score goals," Mourinho said. "We are coming here to play seriously."

Mourinho has led nine-times European Cup winners Real Madrid to the verge of the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2003, and will put out a strong side to ensure there are no slip-ups.

"I don't know how many years it has been since Real Madrid played in the semi-finals of the Champions League but we can be there after 90 minutes," he said. "For that reason we have to concentrate on this game and nothing else. We are unbeaten in nine games in the Champions League, with seven wins and two draws, and we are justifiably proud of this record. It would be better to remain unbeaten."

Madrid may also have one eye on Saturday's Clasico with Barcelona, followed four days later by another contest with Barcelona, in the final of the Copa del Rey.

One crumb of comfort for Tottenham is that Real lost 4-0 on their most recent visit to England, a defeat at Anfield to Liverpool in March 2009.