JOSE MOURINHO is on his way back to England.

Ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League encounter with Manchester United at the Bernabeu tonight, Mourinho restated his love for the Premier League.

And he confirmed when the time comes for him to leave Madrid, it will be to renew his love affair with the English game.

“After Real Madrid, England will be my next step,’’ he said. “I love everything about it.”

But on the subject of when, the former Chelsea boss was coy.

“We will see,’’ he said.

The uncertainty stems from a contradiction between Mourinho’s utter certainty in the job he is doing at the Bernabeu, and the low regard in which he is held by the people paid to cover them in the media.

“Are you worried about my crisis?’’ he said. ‘‘I am not.

“It is easy for you to let this press conference end and then speak to the people who write the stories. They will tell you stories they like to write.”

Mourinho has been heavily linked with Manchester City and a return to Stamford Bridge recently as speculation over his future in Spain rumbled on.

It has also been felt he would be of interest to United, even though club ambassador Peter Schmeichel has said the former Porto coach is not under consideration.

Mourinho does not see himself being installed at Old Trafford either, mainly because he expects Ferguson to continue for a good while yet.

“No” he said, when asked if he could replace the Scot. “I don’t believe so.

“I think we have to end our career at the same time. Him at 90 and me at 70.”

Paul Scholes will miss tonight’s game in the Bernabeu after being ruled out with a knee injury.

Ashley Young has recovered from his knee injury, though, and Phil Jones has shrugged off the calf complaint that forced him out of Sunday’s win against Everton.