Jose Mourinho pointed to the lack of belief previous coaches have had in Lucas Moura as to why the Tottenham winger has not yet been a success for the Brazil national team.
Moura was expected to become a Brazil legend when he was younger but, at 27, the Spurs man has only 35 caps and four goals to his name in international football.
And when asked why he was not yet a big success for the national team, Mourinho blamed it on previous club coaches, including Mauricio Pochettino, after he was left out of the Champions League final.
“I think Lucas’ call-ups is less of Lucas and more of the coaches he’s had so far,” Mourinho said in an exclusive interview with Esporte Interativo (via Sport Witness).
“Because since Lucas came to Europe, where is the coach who actually put his head in for him and said: ‘You are important, you are very good, you are a priority, you play every game?’
“Lucas was always living a little bit, both in Paris and here too, in this situation of playing or not playing. Play two, don’t play one. It even came to the situation of doing what he did in the Champions League and not playing in the final.
“I think this is the first time that a fantastic, sensitive, emotional man has felt ‘this coach likes me, this coach wants me’. And I think it’s a little bit reciprocal.”
Mourinho added: “He’s in very good shape. My only fear is obviously that the gas runs out. Because a man is a man. Especially offensive players, who have tremendous wear and tear.
“And all of us coaches like to rotate, in the 60 or 70 minutes, switch for a fresh one. Here neither hot nor fresh, there is only one here and you always have to play. So my fear is just that.
“And with all due respect to Tite, the best thing he could do is not to call up Lucas so that in March he could refuel a little. But he’s doing a fantastic job that deserves all the best, I think he’s been having a fantastic three months.
“Not only in the quality of the game, but in the way he gives himself to the team.”
Click Here: Tonga Rugby Shop