Mourinho steers clear of controversy, says Arbeloa is “like a son” | OneFootball

José Mourinho downplayed any insinuation of friction with Álvaro Arbeloa and stated that the current Real Madrid coach is “like a son.” On the eve of the clash between Benfica and Real Madrid in the Champions League, the Portuguese – currently in charge of the Lisbon team – emphasized the special relationship he built with the former defender during his time at the Spanish club, from 2010 to 2013.

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Last week, a comment he made about rookie coaches leading big clubs was interpreted as a criticism of Arbeloa. Mourinho denied it. He stated that his words were also misunderstood in Italy, where they imagined it was a jab at Cristian Chivu, the new coach of Inter. “Chivu and Arbeloa are my sons, they are not just former players,” he said.

Mourinho praised the Spaniard's character and emphasized that he would never put pressure on him. “Arbeloa is one of the best men I have ever coached, someone very special. I want everything to go well for him,” he said. The coach also mentioned that he has not spoken with the former full-back since his arrival at the helm of the merengue team, but assured that the relationship remains intact.

According to Mourinho, no phone call is needed to wish him luck. “He knows I root for his success. He wants to beat Benfica, but after that, he roots for us. There’s no need to call to understand that,” completed the Benfica coach, who meets his former protégé in this decisive Champions round.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.