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Mourinho shrugs off rumors he may go to Real Madrid

Jose Mourinho said on Monday he would like to coach Real Madrid, though only after completing his contract at Chelsea.

"Every coach would like to do it," he said. "It would be an honor to work in a club like Real Madrid."

Mourinho, who has guided Chelsea to the last two Premier League titles, has a contract through 2010. There has been speculation the Portuguese coach could leave the London club after this season and replace Fabio Capello at Madrid, but Mourinho said he was staying at Stamford Bridge.

Contract

"I say clearly no [to moving] until 2010 because I have a contract with Chelsea," Mourinho said. "I want to stay at Chelsea. I am in love with Chelsea. I am in love with English football."

Chelsea have already won the League Cup this season and are second in the Premier League, nine points behind Manchester United. The Blues are still competing in the FA Cup and Champions League.

Mourinho spoke after returning from Spain, where he watched Valencia draw 3-3 with Osasuna. Valencia hosts Chelsea in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Champions League on April 4.

Meanwhile, Ghana midfielder Michael Essien signed a new five-year contract on Monday that will keep him at Chelsea through 2012.

The 24-year-old Essien is in his second season at Stamford Bridge. He has played in all but one match this season, making a total of 46 appearances in a variety of positions in both midfield and defense.

`Really Happy'

"It didn't take me long to decide to sign," Essien said. "I am really happy because I came here to stay a long time. I really work hard in training and do everything to succeed. I have the ambition to win a lot of trophies for the club."

Essien joined the Blues from Lyon in 2005 for what was then a club-record fee, reported to be ?24.4 million (US$47 million), and helped the club win its second Premier League championship in a row.

Chelsea is currently in second place, nine points behind Manchester United, but still in contention in the FA Cup and Champions League.

"It is great to have somebody like Michael, who has already made a huge contribution, commit for another five years," Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon said. "We spent a summer getting him, it wasn't easy, and it is nice to be on the next step."
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