Champions League

Jose Mourinho wants Manchester United to draw Manchester City in quarter-finals

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 14 March 2019

Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is excited by the prospect of an all-Manchester quarter-final ahead of Friday's draw.

Jose Mourinho has admitted that he would like to see former club Manchester United draw rivals Manchester City in the quarter-finals of the Champions League as it would be a "fantastic match".

The Red Devils booked their place in the last eight of the competition thanks to a famous 3-1 away win over Paris Saint-Germain last week, seeing them through on away goals.

City cruised past Schalke 04 in their last-16 tie, meanwhile, scoring seven unanswered goals in the second leg to go through 10-2 on aggregate.

Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool are also in the hat for Friday's draw, and Mourinho is excited by the prospect of two all-English ties.

"I would like English teams to play against each other, without any kind of preference," he told RT. "But I would do two matches between English teams, which would mean two teams would be in the semi-finals.

"I think if the draw gives something like Manchester City versus Manchester United, or Tottenham against Liverpool, for example, I think would be absolutely fantastic matches.

"I wouldn't like Juventus against Barcelona because I think it would be something really special Barcelona against Juventus in a possible final or semi-final.

"Two great teams that are not being successful in the Champions League for a few years, of course Juventus so much more than Barcelona, And led by two big players Cristiano [Ronaldo] and [Lionel] Messi is something I wouldn't waste on a quarter-final, I would wait a little bit more."

Not since 2009 has one league been responsible for half of the Champions League quarter-finalists.