Jose Mourinho rejects Real Madrid links and insists he wants to remain at Manchester United beyond current deal

Jose Mourinho has claimed he hopes to stay at Manchester United beyond the end of his current contract.

Mourinho’s future at Old Trafford remains uncertain but, asked about reports linking him with a return to Real Madrid with Julen Lopetegui facing the sack after just 12 games in charge at the Bernabeu, the United manager said: “No, my future is here [at United]. I want to stay here until the final day of my contract and I would like to stay after my contract runs out as well.”

Mourinho grew increasingly irritated by questions about Real at a press conference to preview United’s Champions League tie against Juventus on Tuesday night, when Cristiano Ronaldo prepares to return to Old Trafford for only the second time since leaving the club in 2009.

The United manager was initially happy to discuss Ronaldo, whom he described as “one of the best players of all time” but he scowled when asked about his relationship with Florentino Perez, the Real president, and refused to answer when asked if he could understand Ronaldo’s decisions to force a move from the Spanish club in the summer. On both occasions, the United press officer intervened and requested questions on the game.

Mourinho then took exception to a question about Paul Pogba’s form since joining United from Juventus two years ago.

“I don't like this press conference,” he said. “I don't want to speak about Pogba, I don't want to speak about individuals, I don't want to speak to the Spanish journalists because they are only interested in Real Madrid and Ronaldo.

“I am going to play against one of the biggest clubs in the world, one of the biggest candidates of winning the competition, that's what motivates me, that's what bring me here, and I think the press conference is going in other directions.

“So if it's going in other directions I also want to go in another direction. No, no, I'm serious.”

At that point, Mourinho launched into a defence of Marco Ianni, with whom he had clashed at the end of United’s 2-2 draw against Chelsea on Saturday, and urged his former club not to sack the coach for his goading of him.

United’s draw against Chelsea followed a 3-2 comeback against Newcastle before the international break and Mourinho is hoping his team can replicate their second half performances in those games against Juventus.

“United's form was shown in the past two matches - the way we want to play and can play was shown in the past two matches so let's try to do it again,” he said.

“Against Chelsea, there were contradictions in our feelings because by one side everybody was happy with the collective performance but not the result, so there were contradictory feelings. I told the players to get the best out of these feelings, that pride and confidence and way that we play and by the other side use that hunger to motivate yourself to play a big football match.”

Romelu Lukaku said the mood in the camp had been boosted by the second half showings against Newcastle and Chelsea but that United needed to stop starting games so slowly.

“It's going to take time to be where we want to be but the last two games have shown that we can play, we can press forward and we have played to make a difference,” the Belgium striker said. “The work that we're doing behind the scenes has to be delivered into wins.

“In the first half we started slowly - no initiative on the ball, no movement. In the second half, everything that we said we wanted to do in the first half we did. That's why we came back and got great results. Now the key is to start games like we do in the second half.

“We have a plan every time we go against a team but I don't know how to explain it. It's just something we need to get out of. Offensively we are set up really well but then it's on the ball where we need to make a difference.”

Asked about the contrast in his form for Belgium compared to United and the lack of chances he is getting at club level, Lukaku added: “I don't know. With Belgium I've been playing for 10 years, since I was 16. Players know me much more. Here I still think my teamwork between myself and my teammates can improve and be much better. It's something that we're working. The players need to know me and know my movement. When that starts clicking I think the results I have with Belgium will also come here.”

Alexis Sanchez is due to miss the Juventus game after missing training on Monday morning with an apparent injury. Marouane Fellaini, Phil Jones, Scott McTominay, Jesse Lingard and Diogo Dalot were also absent. “The players you saw are the players that are available,” Mourinho said. “Nothing to hide and Alexis is out.”

Club captain Antonio Valencia, who has been left out of the squad for the past two matches, did train. Valencia has not been seen since being rebuked for liking an Instagram post calling for Mourinho to be sacked but the manager said he had been missing due to an operation on his mouth.

“The reason was that he was 10 days without training with a problem, not an injury but a problem that he had a very complicated surgery on his mouth,” Mourinho said. “And 10 days without training needed a little bit of time to recover some level after that.”