Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho feels his Portuguese players suffer in Spain. Mourinho says its extra difficult for his countrymen to succeed in Spain, where Fabio Coentrao, particularly, has struggled.

"Bringing Portuguese players to Real? I do not take them unless I am absolutely convinced. Because it is a very hard, very hard. You have to be a Cristiano Ronaldo, a Pepe, a grown man, with a special mentality to resist a situation that is not easy," said Mourinho, before discussing Coentrao's return for last week's friendly against Benfica.

"It's important for him to be in Lisbon. To be applauded. It will lift his self-esteem. He doesn't get that at Real Madrid."