Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane admits he's grateful to former coach Jose Mourinho for his support.
Chelsea boss Mourinho convinced Varane to ignore Manchester United and sign for Real two years ago from Lens.
Varane told fifa.com: "He told me that I'd have my chance to play and that I was going to find out about myself and get to know myself better. I'd never been under a lot of pressure before, either on the pitch or off it, and he said that I'd soon be given the opportunity to find out how I'd react to it. Mourinho kept his word. In the two years I played for him he always kept his word, and he also knew when to throw me in at the right time.
"I'm only young and haven't had many coaches, which means it's difficult for me to make comparisons, but I'd say it's his personality and charisma, which were felt by the whole team. He's a winner, a competitor, and he transmits that to his players. Wherever he's gone he's always created combative teams with lots of character."
