Jose happy to face 'the best'

Mourinho ready for Old Trafford return

By Nadia Carminati   Last updated: 19th December 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Jose happy to face 'the best'

Mourinho: Ready for Ferguson

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Jose Mourinho is happy to have been drawn against 'the best' with Manchester United awaiting in the UEFA Champions League.

The former Porto and Chelsea manager saw his Inter Milan charges paired with the reigning European and Premier League champions in the last 16 of Europe's leading club competition.

The Portuguese guided Porto to a memorable Champions League victory at Old Trafford on their way to lifting the trophy in 2004 and enjoyed Premier League success over Ferguson with the Blues in 2005 and 2006.

Inter will host the first leg at Giuseppe Meazza in February before travelling to Old Trafford for the return fixture in March.

Unforgettable

Mourinho told a news conference: "I am satisfied, I wanted the best and I have got the European champions who maybe in two days will be world champions.

"It is a team with the current Ballon D'Or winner (Cristiano Ronaldo), a great coach in Alex Ferguson and a stadium with a fantastic atmosphere.

"It will be unforgettable returning to Manchester.

"Some say I have a good record against Alex Ferguson but the record isn't mine, it's Chelsea's."

Arsenal

There are three Italy v England ties in the last 16 of the tournament with Chelsea up against Juventus and Arsenal tackling Roma.

And Mourinho feels that the side from the Eternal City have the easiest opponents in the shape of Arsene Wenger's Gunners.

He added: "They are three 50/50 matches, anyone can win.

"Roma, however, will meet an opponent a little easier than ours or Juve's because Arsenal are neither Chelsea nor Manchester United."