Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane credits Jose Mourinho for helping him get his career back on track.

Mourinho worked with Varane during their time together at Real Madrid and it was under the Portuguese manager that the young defender started to flourish.

Varane has now gone on to hail Mourinho and has stated that some tough love from the 'Special One' helped him become a better player.

"During my second year at Madrid, Jose Mourinho gave me a kick up the backside," Varane told Le Journal du Dimanche.

"I wasn't doing well, I wasn't managing to do what he wanted me to out on the pitch. So he chided me, saying, 'Why don't you run in training?' My first reaction was to mutter, 'Oh come on...' But I knew he was right, I had more to give. Mourinho doesn't need to give long speeches.

"He's direct and to the point. What he said to me was for my own good. Without regular pressure like that, I can tend to rest on my laurels."