Real Madrid coach Carlos Queiroz says he hopes to end to his first season in charge by seeing his team meet his former side Manchester United in the Champions League final in May.

"It would be a dream final," Queiroz told Spanish sports daily Marca on Tuesday. "It would be fantastic to see Real face up to United and that is the final I want to see."

The former Portugal coach was Alex Ferguson's assistant at United last season but left after just a year when he was offered the job of replacing Vicente del Bosque at Real.

Despite some criticism of his tactical decisions in early matches and difficulties in dealing with a shortage of cover in defence, Queiroz believes his first six months at the club have been a success.

"I think things have gone well so far because we have reached January in a comfortable position thanks to the motivation and confidence of the team."

Real lead the Primera Liga by two points from Valencia following an impressive run of form in December when they defeated neighbours Atletico, arch-rivals Barcelona and high-flying Deportivo Coruna.

They also beat Porto to book their place as the only undefeated team in the last 16 of the Champions League and survived a scare from second division Leganes to qualify for the second round of the King's Cup.

"We are on course to achieve our objectives," said Queiroz. "But of course we haven't won anything yet and it is on our achievements that we will be judged at the end of the season."

Real were returning to training on Tuesday after an eight-day Christmas break but they will have little respite in the next two months because of midweek cup matches.

The nine-times European champions also have to prepare for a clash against Bayern Munich in the first knock-out stage of the Champions League at the end of February.

"We are going to find ourselves facing a very, very strong Bayern," said Queiroz. "After their winter break they will be in top shape and focused on the match against us.

"The only thing that could have been worse than facing them would have been to have been drawn against either Juventus or United."