Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho downplayed his recent comments to the BBC that he wanted to return to England "in a couple of years," saying he has no plans to abandon Spain anytime soon.

The former Chelsea manager told the Real Madrid website that the phrase "'in a couple of years' should not be translated literally, it is an expression used in English to mean within a few years, not exactly two."

"In two years nobody is going to get me out of here unless they kick me out for bad results," Mourinho said. "But I am sure that I am going to complete my contract with Real Madrid."

The 48-year-old Mourinho has a contract with Madrid until 2014.

Mourinho ended Madrid's three-year trophy drought by guiding it to a Copa del Rey title in his first season in 2010-11, but his team has been undone by fierce rival Barcelona in various head-to-head encounters in both the Spanish league and Champions League.

"People who know me know perfectly well that I wouldn't leave for anything in the world and miss out on this Madrid, which still has the best to come," he said.

Even so, Mourinho confirmed that he sees his long-term future in the English Premier League.

"Everyone knows that I liked being in England and that England will one day have to be my natural destination because in my career, which I hope lasts 20 years or more, in a few years I will have to look for a destination," he said.

Madrid leads the Spanish league standings, three points clear of Barcelona.