How Mourinho is fine-tuning Real

Posted Thursday, June 16, 2011 by ESPN

Ronaldo himself may be considered the one exception to this rule, as the ultimate individualist in an emphatically team sport. Yet this image of him is as inaccurate as it is tired. Last season saw him hit double figures for assists (16) for the first time since 2006-07, when he was a more orthodox winger for Manchester United.

Real Madrid may also sign left-back Fabio Coentrao from Benfica.

"I would have preferred to have scored half the goals and to win the Champions League or La Liga," Ronaldo said this week in an interview with Spanish radio station COPE's program El Partido de las 12 in Lisbon. This echoed his comments while on international duty with Portugal at the start of the month. "What I want is more trophies," he said. On both occasions, Ronaldo underlined that he "isn't thinking of leaving" the club, despite persistent rumors of a mega-offer from Manchester City.

This is a crucial sign that Ronaldo is buying into the Mourinho mindset, despite the accusations of "anti-football" that flew toward the Bernabeu in the wake of last season's Champions League semifinal first leg. Today, Ronaldo refers to his coach as "the best."

Mourinho is still looking for a defensive midfielder, with Lassana Diarra having failed to consistently convince and defender Pepe being redeployed in midfield for crucial matches toward the end of the campaign. Yet Mourinho's plan to once again sculpt a team in his own image is almost complete. Barcelona cannot continue to be the best forever, and when it slips, Mourinho will make sure Real Madrid is poised.

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