June 8th 2024.
Cristiano Ronaldo is about to make his 11th appearance in a major tournament for Portugal. His impressive track record has caught the attention of his former manager, Jose Mourinho, who believes that Ronaldo will play a crucial role in Portugal's Euro 2024 campaign. According to Mourinho, Italy does not have enough talent to defend their title, giving Portugal a good chance to win the tournament.
Ronaldo has been a key player for Portugal since his debut at Euro 2004. Now at 39 years old, he has just completed his first full season in the Saudi Pro League, scoring an impressive 50 goals in 51 appearances for Al-Nassr. However, with strong competition in Portugal's attack, including players like Diogo Jota, Goncalo Ramos, and Joao Felix, who just had a successful loan spell at Barcelona, Ronaldo will have to fight for his spot in the starting lineup.
When asked about Ronaldo's role in the team, Mourinho stated that the coach holds the ultimate decision. However, he believes that Ronaldo's influence and goal-scoring abilities will be a valuable asset to the team. He also expressed confidence in Ronaldo's ability to score goals, saying that he does not believe he will leave the European Championship without finding the back of the net.
Mourinho also considers Portugal to be one of the top contenders for the Euro 2024 title, along with teams like England, France, Germany, and Spain. He is less convinced about Italy's chances, who are in a tough group with Spain, Croatia, and Albania. Mourinho believes that Italy does not have enough talent to win the tournament for a second time.
When it comes to pre-tournament friendlies, Mourinho downplayed their significance, using England's recent loss to Iceland as an example. He believes that the real test comes during the tournament itself, when the pressure is on and teams are fighting for qualification. Despite England's defeat, Mourinho does not see it as a sign of failure and believes that the team will have a chance to redeem themselves during the actual tournament.
In conclusion, Mourinho has high hopes for Portugal at Euro 2024 and believes that Ronaldo will be a key player in their journey to the top. He also considers Portugal to be one of the top contenders, along with other strong teams like England, France, Germany, and Spain. However, he does not see Italy as a major threat and believes that they do not have enough talent to win the tournament for a second time. Ultimately, the real test will come during the tournament itself, and Mourinho remains confident in Portugal's abilities to perform well under pressure.
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