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Mourinho discusses Karim Benzema’s Ballon d’Or

Andy Mattioli
Real Madrid's Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho (R) celebrates with Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema (L) after scoring during the Spanish King's Cup (Copa del Rey) football match Sevilla FC vs Real Madrid on January 26, 2011 at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Sevilla.AFP PHOTO/ CRISTINA QUICLER (Photo credit should read CRISTINA QUICLER/AFP via Getty Images)

Roma manager Jose Mourinho was interviewed following last night’s award ceremony that saw Karim Benzema lift the Ballon d’Or. The Portuguese technician – who worked with Benzema at Madrid between 2010 and 2013 – discussed the Frenchman’s achievement.

“His Ballon d’Or is the natural consequence of his natural evolution, more than the result of a personal obsession,” Mourinho told L’Equipe.

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“When I was his coach he was a very talented footballer, looking for his identity as a player of the highest level, with the right ambitions and the right physical condition.”

“I wanted him to grow as quickly as possible and I was hard on him: I corrected him on all the small details, the smallest extra pound and even the slightest minute of delay in training.”

“I don’t know if I had influence in his evolution, only he knows, but his strong character allowed him to progress.”

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