Jose Mourinho has managed some of the very best players in the world, but the current Manchester United boss has named a fairly surprising player as the best he's coached.
From the batch of Portuguese players he managed during his time at Porto, who all secured moves away from the 2004 Champions League winners, Chelsea's Didier Drogba & John Terry to Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, to name but a few.
Mourinho rose to prominence after his managerial heroics with Porto. Image: PA
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But when the two-time Champions League winning manager was pressed on a specific player he opted for a midfielder he's recently signed for Manchester United.
"[Nemanja] Matic, I cannot say that I had better guys than him in my career," Mourinho told The Times via 101 Great Goals.
Matic and Mourinho embrace. Image: PA
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The Serbian midfielder played under Mourinho at Stamford Bridge before following him to United in the summer.
The Reds shelled out £40 million to acquire his services with the 29-year-old making an instant impression from the middle of the park.
Matic in action for United in the Premier League. Image: PA
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Mourinho also recalls a story about Matic: "He has with me something which marks forever, which was a match where he was on the bench, I play him minute 45 and I took him off minute 70, 75."
"The press wants a story, the press wants blood. My blood, or his blood, or both. He was really sad. I was also sad because it's not something nice and it's something that I did only twice in my career," he added.
Matic holds aloft the Premier League trophy. Image: PA
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"But the next day he comes to me and he says, 'I'm not happy, but it's my fault. I'm not happy with what you did to me, but it's my fault, because the way I was playing I can understand the change. So let's keep going.'
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Featured Image Credit:Topics: Jose Mourinho, Chelsea, Manchester United, Real Madrid