Sunday 1 March 2015 15:40, UK
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says he turned down an approach from Tottenham after leaving Stamford Bridge in September 2007.
The Blues boss admitted that an exit clause forbade him from managing in England for two years and that even Spurs' attempts to pay compensation to Chelsea fell well short seven years ago.
"I couldn't go," said Mourinho, ahead of Sunday's Capital One Cup final against the north Londoners. "I couldn't train in England for two years."
The Portuguese is aiming for his first trophy in his second spell in charge at the Bridge at Wembley and, asked if he would have considered the White Hart Lane, Mourinho said: "No, because I love Chelsea supporters too much."
He then insisted he wished to remain in English football - ideally at Chelsea - for the rest of his career.
Mourinho has often spoken of his love for the Premier League since his return in June 2013 after spells at Internazionale and Real Madrid.
He was asked if he feels the same way now after complaining of a "clear campaign" against his side this season.
"Good question," Mourinho, in the second year of his four-year Chelsea deal, said. "That I love it? Yes. I would not change my feelings about it. About my desire to work for this club? No change. Exactly the same.
"Maybe in two, three, four months, maybe I can change my feelings. In this moment I'm a bit disappointed, yes.
"The only way for my frustration to go away is to play matches and to finish matches with the best feeling. And to finish matches with the best feeling is not just because you win.
"I remember clearly when we lost our first game of the season, at Newcastle, and after the game I told the media this was the way I like to lose. Great referee, no controversial decisions, we played well and tried everything and were unlucky - this is the way I like to lose.
The only way for my frustration to go away is to play matches and to finish matches with the best feeling. And to finish matches with the best feeling is not just because you win.
"So that the good feeling is not because you win - it is a consequence of what happened, what you smell and what you feel.
"The only way I can be really comfortable is when the 90 minutes give me everything I love in football."
Mourinho's most recent frustrations have surrounded the two-match suspension given to Nemanja Matic by the Football Association for the midfielder's reaction to a tackle from Burnley's Ashley Barnes last weekend.
The Serbia midfielder will be a spectator against Spurs, but Mourinho pleaded ignorance surrounding the full extent of the punishment.
"I don't even know if he's allowed to go to the dressing room after the crime he committed by reacting the way he did, by pushing a player and getting a two-match ban," Mourinho said.
"I don't know if he is allowed to go into the dressing room. I don't know if he's allowed to go to Wembley. I don't know the rules."
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