'I could have been England manager', says Jose Mourinho

Speaking ahead of tonight's Champions League clash between his current side Inter Milan and his former club Chelsea, the Portuguese coach recalled how close he was to agreeing to replace Steve McClaren just months after walking out on the Blues.

"I could have been England manager," he proclaimed.

"I was, at that time, maybe the proudest manager in the world because, especially for a foreign coach, to have the possibility of leading a country like England, I was the proudest man in the world.

"I thought and thought and thought and and I was fighting with myself because one side wanted and the other side knew it was not the job for me, for my mentality, for my passion of football, for training every day."

Mourinho's words appeared tinted with a touch of regret, although he stands by his decision to remain a club coach and believes Capello is the right man for the job.

"It was not the job for me and I decided it was not to be," he said.

"It was a good decision, England chose a very good experienced manager who is doing a great job.

"And, because I love England, I hope he keeps doing very, very well and keeps having the dream and, why not, the reality of making something very, very important for your country.

"So I think it was a great decision to have a very good coach and I hope everything goes well."

Had Mourinho been in charge of England, John Terry may well have kept hold of the captain's armband, although the Portuguese coach did not want to judge the decisions made by Capello and Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti on the issue.

When asked what he thought of the decision to take the captaincy off Terry, Mourinho quipped: "I don't think much.

"You are right when you say that he was a fantastic captain for me," he added.

"You are absolutely right. Not just a fantastic player, but a fantastic captain.

"But it is the decision of the England manager, and I am not the England manager; the decision of the Chelsea owner, and I don't own Chelsea.

"When I was manager of Chelsea, for that time he was absolutely a fantastic and great leader of the team."

Chelsea full-back Ashley Cole also earned Mourinho's backing, despite his recent difficulties both on and off the field.

"I watched Ashley Cole play until the moment he had his injury and what I watched him play was superb," said Mourinho.

"If he has problems, the problems for sure are not on the pitch."