Argentine Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria believes ex-Madrid mentor Jose Mourinho has helped him gain confidence to play alongside the World’s best like Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 25-year-old insists his evolvement into one of the best at the Bernabeu is as a result of lessons received from his former coach.
“Mourinho made me a better player. He showed me many things, and made me grow as a footballer. He helped me to move into a different position, to sacrifice myself more for the team,” Di Maria told Diario Ole.
“I’m very grateful for him. He told me that at Real I was a forward that could also defend, and that I couldn’t rest when they were on the attack.
“As I was performing under him for the three years he was at Madrid he put me in the starting line up. The Di Maria playing down the middle compared to the one now is a different player, both technically and tactically.”
Di Maria is happy to have the privilege of playing amongst the World best at club level he plays alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and international level he squares it off alongside Lionel Messi.
“But as time goes on I’m getting used to it, and appearing alongside them is something natural for me I don’t say ‘wow, I’m here and playing with so-and-so’ any more.”
The winger left Benifica to join Madrid in a €25 million in 2010 and has appeared over 100 times for Los Blancos.
Comments
About Author
