Jose up for round two

REAL BATTLE AHEAD ... Jose Mourinho has issed a warning to Manchester United

JOSE MOURINHO warned his old sparring partner Alex Ferguson last night: “We’ll do you at Old Trafford.”

The Real Madrid coach was in bullish mood despite United taking a vital goal and a draw home from Spain after a tense battle at the Bernabeu.

And he predicted the ‘Clash of the Titans’ would go to the very last kick of the March 5 second leg.

Mourinho said: “We can score goals at Old Trafford. Many teams have done so this season.

“But no other team with the same attacking potential that we have has played there. I am confident still, I am 100 per cent sure we can do this.”

Mourinho said that United had played for a draw last night and will not be so negative in the second leg — which could open things up for Real.

He said: “I don’t think with the British culture that United will play with all of their defenders in their area the way they played here.

“We played against a team who sat back playing their own game. I shouldn’t criticise what they did. They came here to defend well and not concede spaces and goals.

"They didn’t play to win but even then it could have been 3-1 to them because they had two big chances late on.

RON THE MONEY ... Cristiano Ronaldo leaps to head Real Madrid level

“Even by playing the way they played they had the chances to win.

“They did the job but they also know that Real Madrid can do it there.

“I don’t think it is a bad score. There is a lot of excitement ahead of the return game and we will be there.

“There was nothing new here for me tonight, not a surprise with the match or the result.

“It was what I was waiting for — everything very open for the second leg. This will go to the last minute.

“It doesn’t change a number in percentages — it’s 50-50. Do United have an advantage? No, we can score more than one goal there.”

Danny Welbeck nodded in Wayne Rooney’s 20th-minute corner to fire the visitors ahead before Cristiano Ronaldo levelled 10 minutes later with a header of his own.

United boss Ferguson revealed that Ronaldo went into the United dressing room after the game to catch up with his old team-mates and he will get a great reception on his return to Old Trafford for the second leg.

Ronaldo, who bagged his 35th goal of another unbelievable season, said: “It was a tough game. United are a very strong team defensively. We played well and deserved to score more goals.

“I played in Manchester for six years. They welcomed me when I was a child and it’s very special to play against them.

“I have a lot of respect for them. We will have chances in the second leg and we always try to take the initiative.”

Robin van Persie had three great chances to win last night’s game for United but he was denied twice by Real keeper Diego Lopez and also by Xabi Alonso’s desperate goal-line clearance.

The Dutch striker said: “It could have gone either way. We had some good chances and if you said 1-1 at the start we would have taken it.

“I had three chances in the second half, especially just after I hit the bar. It was a big chance and I should have put it in — I slightly mis-kicked it.”

As to whether United were favourites to progress into the quarter-finals, the Dutchman remained cautious.

He said: “Yes, we have a slight advantage.

“At this level I don’t think these types of teams care if they play home or away.

“We don’t care, they don’t care. It’s half-time and we’re ready for the second half.”

So it is all down to Old Trafford on March 5.

It was put to Mourinho that his whole future at Real, who are third in La Liga, could depend on the outcome of that game.

The maverick boss replied: “I have no idea and I’m not worried about it.”