Jose Mourinho insists that Cristiano Ronaldo will be crucial for Portugal’s Euro 2024 campaign and asserts that Italy lacks the talent to retain the trophy.
Ronaldo is gearing up for his 11th major tournament with Portugal, having debuted at Euro 2004.
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At 39, he recently completed his first full season in the Saudi Pro League, netting 50 goals in 51 appearances for Al-Nassr.
Despite his impressive form, Ronaldo faces stiff competition for a starting spot in Portugal’s attack, contending with Liverpool’s Diogo Jota, Paris Saint-Germain’s Goncalo Ramos, and Joao Felix, who spent the season on loan at Barcelona.
When asked about Ronaldo’s role in Portugal’s team for Euro 2024, Mourinho told RTP: ‘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 his goals.
‘I don’t believe he will leave the European Championship without goals.’
Mourinho also reiterated that he considers Portugal one of the favourites to win the European tournament.
‘I think practically everyone thinks like me,’ he said. ‘Portugal, England, France, below them are Germany and Spain.’
But, Mourinho was more dismissive of Italy, who are in a tough Group B with Spain, Croatia and Albania.
‘I don’t believe it,’ Mourinho said. ‘It’s not a very talented generation. I can’t see enough talent to win, they won the last one, but I don’t believe in a second time.’
Mourinho also played down the significance of pre-tournament friendly games after England’s 1-0 defeat to Iceland on Friday night.
‘It depends on the way the coach looks at the game, the goals he will have. ‘England lost yesterday against Iceland at Wembley and the world didn’t end.
‘The moment of truth is there, it’s not an easy qualification or friendly games, it’s when things start to heat up.’
