Mourinho ready for United blockbuster

Jose Mourinho has hailed his Real Madrid team's UEFA Champions League clash with Manchester United as the one "the world wants to see".

The Real manager was at Old Trafford on Sunday to cast his eye over his February 13 opponents as United hosted Liverpool in the Barclays Premier League.

And Mourinho would have seen an impressive looking United side take the game to Liverpool in the first half on their way to building a 2-1 win over the Anfield outfit.

Sir Alex Ferguson's United team travel to the Bernabeu on February 13 for the first leg of their last-16 tie with Real before the two teams meet again in Manchester on March 5 for the second leg.

"This is the match the world wants to see. Real Madrid against Manchester United. Sir Alex against his friend Mourinho," the Portuguese tactician told The Sun.

"The only shame is that it is not the final."

He added: "We [Real Madrid] know we can beat them [Man United]. We know they can beat us - but we will be ready."

Should Madrid account for United and reach the Champions League quarter-finals, they would have done so the hard way having had to qualify from the 'Group of Death' - which included Borussia Dortmund, Ajax and Manchester City - before drawing the Premier League giants in the knockout stage.

"There were groups where you knew who was going to be first and second after two or three games," he said.

"But our group included three of the best five teams in the competition - Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City and ourselves. Now we get the toughest opponent in the biggest tie of the last 16."

One other storyline Real's mouthwatering clash with United sets up is the return to Old Trafford of former Stretford End hero Cristiano Ronaldo, who now plies his trade in the Spanish capital.