Jose Mourinho wants Premier League return: 'I will be back soon'

Jose Mourinho admitted that life outside of football doesn't suit him, and acknowledged that he prefers to manage in England because of the competitive nature of the Premier League.

While his home will remain in London, Mourinho, who was dismissed as Chelsea manager in December, is prepared to move elsewhere in the country. He's been heavily linked with a job in the Northwest with Manchester United as manager Louis van Gaal's possible replacement.

However, Mourinho did not mention reports linking him with the United job during his first interview since becoming unemployed.

"For sure, I will be back soon," Mourinho told GQ magazine.

"(London) is an amazing place to live and for the family to be together. As a professional, I am ready to move.

"I need competition every week. In Spain (as Real Madrid’s manager) I was at an amazing club but I had four matches a year - Barcelona v Real Madrid, Real Madrid v Barcelona."

Mourinho and Chelsea agreed to mutually part ways following a thoroughly disappointing loss to Leicester City, managed by former Blues coach and the Portuguese manager's predecessor during his first stint at Stamford Bridge, Claudio Ranieri. The defeat left Chelsea one point away from relegation territory, and Guus Hiddink was brought in to provide a breath of fresh air.

Almost immediately after his dismissal, Mourinho was the focus of speculation in regards to possibly managing United as the club floundered under Van Gaal.

Related: Van Gaal dismisses reports linking Mourinho to Manchester United as 'nonsense'

The Red Devils have shown signs of improvement since the Mourinho rumours first emerged, but Van Gaal appears to be on a short leash with every passing week.