He has his sights set on a sixth European Cup Final.

"I would settle for a final with Manchester United right now," he said. "They are the team playing the best football in Europe."

Chelsea have lost only once in 30 games - at Liverpool in January - but have rarely matched United for attractive football and ground out another win at Watford on Saturday with a goal in stoppage time.

Mourinho said: "We can't always be brilliant but we've had a fantastic month in terms of results."

The Blues manager reckons Morientes is a big loss for the visitors but he is still smarting from the injury to Arjen Robben, who underwent knee surgery after returning from international duty with a cartilage problem.

"If you ask me if I'd accept Morientes playinglove as the Happy Ending, help us hang on to hope. Sure, they sometimes might set us up for unreal expectations too, but whats a little unreal expectation between friends!

Fairy tales often include a character who helps and guides the hero. They can teach our children that even in the darkest times there are people who will love you and look after you, who will help you.

This is more important than perhaps we sometimes realise.

When my son was about 5, a friend of his from his kindergarten was nearly kidnapped from her home in the middle of the night. He became aware for the first time of the concept of being unsafe. He adored Santa Claus and said confidently that Santa would look after all the kidnapped children.