Chapter 320 - 0169 Happy birthday, Kevin (Please subscribe)_3
"Impossible!"
Mourinho said firmly, "He’s not as good as Rijkaard. Some people can’t keep up with the developments in soccer by the age of 60, while others around his age can maintain competitiveness in the fierce competition of the Premier League."
"Who are the ’some people’ you’re talking about?" the host continued to ask.
"Whoever you think it is," Mourinho said, shifting his sitting position.
"So what do you think is the key to AC Milan’s success in defending their UEFA Champions League title?"
"Kevin!" Mourinho exclaimed, "I’ve watched the Champions League finals over the past two years. Kevin’s performance was impressive; he’s a clear-thinking player. But creating a cage to contain him isn’t easy because he attacks from the left but stays in the middle. It’s very difficult. When Kevin is one-on-one with you, you’re done for. I’ve already told the Chelsea players, if you face Kevin, don’t go one-on-one; you must build a cage around him."
"Then do you think Kevin is a good fit for Chelsea?"
"Of course. With Kevin, Chelsea could win everything. He’s the player for Chelsea. If he played for us, he would have a lot of tactical freedom," Mourinho affirmed.
Interestingly,
Wenger, who often sparred with Mourinho verbally, also praised Huang Kaiwen after returning to France and watching the final, during an interview with the French media.
Speaking to reporters he said, "I’ve met Kevin a few times off the pitch. He’s quiet like the boy next door, but anyone who thinks he’s ordinary is a fool. We did everything we could when facing AC Milan; the players did well, but we were still knocked out. Kevin changed everything. My players tried all they could think of, but some players, you simply can’t defend against. Against such players, your team needs many people to target him, which gives his teammates more opportunities."