'I was not sacked' insists Jose

LONDON, England -- Jose Mourinho has insisted that he was not sacked by Chelsea and claims that his decision to leave was the right move for both parties.

Mourinho's departure on Wednesday night stunned the football world, but he said it was by mutual consent.

"(Owner) Roman (Abramovich), Peter (Kenyon, chief executive), the top people at the club are happy, and I'm happy too.

"I was not sacked and I didn't close the door. If I wanted to close the door I would do it before - at the end of season," he told Sky Sports News.

Mourinho also hinted that he would return to manage in the Premier League, but only after taking up another challenge in a different country.

"I don't want it in my next step. I don't want to leave Chelsea's and go immediately to another door.

"I think my next step must be another country, must be another experience, another football.

"But I am 44, I hope I have many years in front of me. I love English football and I don't change a single word I've said before," he added.

Mourinho also ruled himself out of the running for the Portuguese national job, and any other job in his homeland, despite being widely tipped to replace Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Mourinho claimed it was his intention to learn another new language - although his choice of Italian or German was more to do with his proficiencies elsewhere, rather than a firm desire to take a job in Serie A or the Bundesliga.

"I will have to go enjoy my life," he said. "I will study another language because I want to learn one more. "I'm not tired, I don't need one, two, three, four months (to recover).

"Stress is not to have a football game to play."

He added: "I have will have to choose between Italian and German, because French, Spanish and English are fine." E-mail to a friend