Jose Mourinho admits he will not end career at Manchester United as he wants to stay in management for 15 more years... but he has no intention of leaving the club any time soon

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Jose Mourinho walked away from the Stadium of Light in Lisbon leaving everyone else in the dark about his future at Manchester United.

Mourinho reiterated comments made in an interview with a French TV station over the weekend saying that he will not finish his career at Old Trafford.

But the United boss insisted he has no plans to leave the club as he approaches the halfway point of a three-year contract. 

Jose Mourinho speaks to the media ahead of Manchester United's clash with Benfica

Mourinho has said he plans to stay at United for the immediate future

Speaking at the Estadio da Luz before Wednesday night's Champions League game against Benfica, Mourinho said he wants to stay in football for at least 15 years and it would be 'mission impossible' to think he could do that entirely at United.

However, the 54-year-old was evasive when asked about the possibility of extending his stay beyond 2019.

'I don't think there is an answer for that,' he said. 'I have a contract and that's it.

'I have my contract that ends in May or June 2019? We are in October 2017, so I don't know what to say. The future in football is tomorrow.

'One day I'm going to sign a five-year contract, £1billion per season, and the next day I'm leaving and going to Paris Saint-Germain. 

Mourinho has admitted that he is unlikely to end his managerial career at United

'The answer is that nothing is happening. I'm not signing a new five-year contract, and I am not leaving for Paris Saint-Germain. I'm at Manchester United, I have a contract and that's it.

'The reality is simple: I didn't sign a new contract, but I am not thinking about leaving too.'

Sensing that the issue was in danger of overshadowing the Group E encounter, Mourinho then sought to explain his thinking.

'The only thing that I told and is true, and there was not misinterpretation of my words, is I am not going to end my career at Manchester United,' he added.

'I ask how is it possible in modern football that any manager is going to last 15 or 20 years in the same club? I think (Arsene) Wenger is the last one. 

Mourinho swings a jumper around his shoulders during the press conference on Tuesday

'I think it is impossible for us, with all the pressure that surrounds every job, to last for so long.

'If in this moment I want to finish my career in two three, four or five years, yes, my ambition is to end my career at Manchester United.

'I think I'm going to be here 15 years minimum in football, in the job, and I think it's impossible to stay 17 years in the same club. It's an impossible mission even if you try.'

Mourinho, who left his first head coach's job at Benfica after just three months in 2000 due to a contract dispute, returned to his old club on Tuesday in a commanding position in the group.

While United have won their two opening games against Basle and CSKA Moscow, while Benfica lost to both opponents — including a club record 5-0 Champions League defeat in Switzerland last month. 

United and Mourinho have taken maximum points from their European games so far

Mourinho admitted it has been a challenge to convince his players that the Portuguese champions are still the most dangerous team in the group.

He said: 'What I was trying to do today was show my players what I've been saying since the beginning: Benfica are much better than CSKA and Basle.

'It's difficult to say that about a team that lost 5-0 and 2-1, but I think I was able to do it. I think the players were convinced. They know Benfica are a good team and a tricky adversary for us.'

The United boss refused to discuss criticism of his tactics in a goalless draw at Anfield on Saturday, but did respond to claims from Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren that he was deliberately kicked in the face by Romelu Lukaku.

Mourinho said: 'There is a big contradiction there because he says let's move on and forget what happened, but then he spends 10 minutes speaking about what he thinks happened  — and didn't happen.'