Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane has praised his former coach Jose Mourinho after saying the Chelsea boss is a great man-manager.
Mourinho brought Varane to the Santiago Bernabeu from French side Lens during his time in charge of the Spanish giants and showed his faith in the defender, then 19, by starting him ahead of Pepe during his last season at the club.
The Portuguese tactician is known to be a huge admirer of Varane, but the centre-back has admitted Mourinho knew exactly how to ensure the France international didn't get complacent by being "direct and to the point" about how the defender could improve his game.
"During my second year at Madrid, Jose Mourinho gave me a kick up the backside," Varane told Le Journal du Dimanche.
"I wasn't doing well, I wasn't managing to do what he wanted me to out on the pitch.
"So he chided me, saying: 'Why don't you run in training?' My first reaction was to mutter, 'Oh come on...' But I knew he was right, I had more to give.
"Mourinho doesn't need to give long speeches," he added.
"He's direct and to the point. What he said to me was for my own good. Without regular pressure like that, I can tend to rest on my laurels."
