Mourinho: ’Ronaldo was in love with Benzema’

Jose Mourinho is enjoying his free time before season with Roma begins. The Portuguese is doing interviews and columns regarding EURO 2020, giving his opinion about the favorites of the tournament, but also on individual players. In his latest column published by Sun, former Chelsea, Real, Inter, Manchester and Spurs manager was talking about star strikers in EURO 2020.

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Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku and Karim Benzema all played under Mourinho at some point during his career, some of them even twice in different clubs, and the Portuguese was happy to talk about them.

„In the Portuguese team, the problem is not when Cristiano is there — but when he leaves. At this moment, the leader is there, the main man, the guy that attracts all the attention. There is such a difference in status, that I really feel there is not one Portugal player who thinks it should be any other way. They all feel protected by this aura that goes around Cristiano and it’s a very good thing for a team. Cristiano can still resolve matches. His efficiency in finishing is incredible. But now, aged 36, he’s a different player. You don’t see him getting the ball out wide and doing diagonals and attacking people with those dribbles. Especially in the national team, Cristiano is a No 9 with some freedom to move around. Portugal have other players — Diogo Jota, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes — to be creative“ explained Mourinho the value of Ronaldo in Portugal’s team.

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Former Real Madrid coach worked with both Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in the Royal club and he raved about the French striker.

„The best compliment you can give to Karim Benzema is that Cristiano Ronaldo was in love with him at Real Madrid. And for Cristiano to be in love with another attacking player means he does a lot for Cristiano — and he does a lot for every attacking player that plays around him. Karim is probably the only No 9 I know that is not selfish in his game. His vision is amazing, the way he enjoys his football is to play with lots of freedom. I can compare him with Harry Kane also in this sense. Karim is getting older but, at 33, his body looks younger. Karim will bring the best out of Mbappe, just as he did in Madrid with Cristiano. These interactions are very important and I believe Karim, in that France team, can do very, very well” said Mourinho.

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Another player the Portuguese also loves is England striker Harry Kane. Mourinho recently coached Spurs and had a fantastic relationship with England’s number 9. And the experienced coach explains why.

„Players like Harry are also very smart. They understand football and understand where they can affect the game more. If Harry plays with wingers that like to attack the space, he clearly feels the way he can affect the game more is to drop and let other guys attack spaces, then he arrives in the box at a later stage of that move. If he plays with wingers that are not fast guys to attack spaces — wingers that like to drop and get in between the lines and get the ball into feet — he knows that if he is not the targetman, if he is not going to lead the line, then who does? Nobody. England can play with a back four, they can play with a five... and Harry has the tactical knowledge to adapt to it, I have no doubt about it. Harry won the Golden Boot at the last World Cup and all of these top strikers have egos“ raved Mourinho.

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Romelu Lukaku’s rise in Inter was not a surprise for the Portuguese, who coached the Belgian international both in Chelsea and Manchester United, and Mourinho emphasizes that the player needed love in order to succeed, and he got it in Inter.

„Lukaku was just a kid when I knew him at Chelsea and at Manchester United he was still developing. But at Inter he’s become the top man. He’s become loved — a big love from the supporters, love from team-mates and he had great relations with former coach Antonio Conte. That’s what a guy with Lukaku’s personality needed. He’s a big guy, physically so strong, but is still a kid. A kid who needs that love, needs that support, needs to feel important. In the national team his record is amazing — 60 goals in 93 appearances — though I always say these amazing international records depend on many easy matches against smaller teams. It’s easy for Lukaku to make the transition to Belgium because they play the same system as Inter. It’s deja vu. So there is no doubt he will score goals and fight for the Golden Boot“ predicted Mourinho.