Jose Mourinho talks Guler, Diomande, Bernardo and Flick: ‘No, I did not ask for him’

Jose Mourinho talks Guler, Diomande, Bernardo and Flick: ‘No, I did not ask for him’ Jose Mourinho is all set to officially begin his second stint as manager of Real Madrid with a La Liga clash against Espanyol this weekend. The Portuguese tactician has been very active during pre-season and managed to rally his troops around him to try to bring trophies back to Madrid. Speaking in an interview with Josep Pedrerol for El Chiringuito TV , Mourinho has opened up on several key figures around Real Madrid and Barcelona. Mourinho sees Guler following Modric path Jose was particularly enthusiastic about Guler, hinting that he sees the Turkish international undergoing a positional evolution. “I love Arda Guler. He’s a top player,” Mourinho said. “I believe with him it’s going to be like Luka Modric. In the end he will end up as a number 8 and then as a 6,” he explained. The comparison is not necessarily about the level of the two players but the evolution. Jose clearly sees Guler becoming more influential from deeper areas as his tactical understanding grows through his career. Diomande was wanted but not requested Mourinho has nothing but praise for Arga Guler. (Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images) Mourinho also clarified his position on Yan Diomande’s signing. “Did I ask for Yan Diomande’s signing? No, I did not ask, but I wanted him,” he explained. The Portuguese coach then praised the winger’s versatility. “He’s a great player who can play on both sides.” Diomande may not have been a player Mourinho specifically demanded, but once the possibility emerged, the coach clearly supported the operation. Bernardo can contribute anywhere Mourinho was equally positive about Bernardo, who was a signing the manager personally pushed for . “Bernardo Silva can contribute in everything,” he said. Mourinho reveals he did not ask for Yan Diomande. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images) That one line sums up how the Portuguese midfielder has been used by Mourinho so far in pre-season. Bernardo has played everywhere from left-back and defensive midfield to attacking midfield, right wing and false nine for Pep Guardiola, making him one of the most flexible players in the squad. Mourinho praises Flick’s Barcelona The Real Madrid coach also offered a rare positive assessment of Barcelona. Asked about Hansi Flick, Mourinho replied: “Yes, I like his Barcelona.” He did not go on to elaborate further, but even that comes as quite a surprise considering the rivalry between the two clubs. Jose Mourinho has taken over at Madrid at a time when Flick’s Barça have been dominating Spain, winning five out of the last possible six trophies. If there is one man who knows how to win, though, it is the Portuguese mastermind, and it remains to be seen how his second stint at the club plays out.