Mourinho isn’t one to shy away from controversial statements or expressing his opinion, whether as a player, pundit, or coach. He was always held in such high regard during his coaching days, that players rarely talked back and other coaches admired his honesty and upfront attitude. But he couldn’t hold back when asked about the impact of Ronaldo in the upcoming international tournament.
Now, as a pundit and broadcaster, he can use his dry humor, upfront point of view, and blunt way of speaking to tell the public what he thinks about upcoming games, soccer tournaments, and current players. This is exactly what he did regarding Ronaldo and the summer Euro 2024 international tournament in just one month.
Ronaldo Key Player for Portugal
Jose Mourinho doesn’t give praise too often, so when he does, you know it means something. This is what happened in the latest review of what type of poem he sees Ronaldo playing in the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament this summer for his home country, Portugal.
Despite being almost 40 years old, he is still playing at a high level. Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League after leaving Manchester United in the Premier League, with everyone saying his career was ‘over’ and ‘finished’ with this shocking move.
But, it only seemed to revitalize his energy and love for the game. He underwent some tough times at United, receiving limited playing time and unfair criticism. When he went to Saudi Arabia, it took some time for him to warm up to the country and the game, but now he consistently scores and plays well every single match.
And Mourinho has noticed Ronaldo’s current form. He stated that Ronaldo will be a huge part of Portugal’s success in the tournament, as the veteran striker/winger has amassed 50 goals in 51 appearances for his club team this season.
And it doesn’t stop for his club. Ronaldo has scored almost 130 goals for his country over the years, showing his prolific goal-scoring nature in front of the net, even in tough situations.
Mourinho giving Ronaldo all of his confidence shows how much of an influential player he is, on and off the field. Even with other stars who are on the Portuguese team, like Jota from Liverpool or Felix from PSG, Ronaldo will still be one of the stars on this domestic team.
Mourinho Gives Full Confidence in Ronaldo
Mourinho didn’t hold back when saying that he thought Ronaldo would be the most influential player for Portugal in the upcoming tournament.
‘The coach knows. Cristiano is the one who knows how he feels, what his goals are, how the coach wants to use him, whether to play every minute of every game or protect him in key moments. But there’s a lot that goes on inside that gets between them. He has a lot of influence and he will score goals. I don’t believe that he will leave the European Championship without goals.’
For a veteran player, Jose has a lot of faith in Ronaldo to have a fantastic tournament. Mourinho also believes that Portugal, Spain, and England could potentially be the top three heading into the summer games, with Ronaldo leading the charge for Portugal, England led by Kyle Walker and Phil Foden, and France, even without the likes of Mbappe, still gunning for first place.
Also Read: Messi Picks Real Madrid over Barca as #1 ‘Best Team in the World’: Man City Close 2nd
About the Author
Emma is an athlete and sports fan who currently plays professional soccer. Growing up, she reached a high level in track and field, distance running, and soccer on both club and university teams.
For More Great Content
Check out all the great content Total Apex Sports has to offer. Check us out on X @TotalApexSports and our other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports.
