Jose Mourinho has sent a strong message to England manager Gareth Southgate regarding Jack Grealish, whom the former Manchester United manager has compared to Portugal legend Luis Figo.
The Aston Villa captain is yet to start a game for the Three Lions at the 2020 UEFA European Championship, but is expected to be named in Southgate's line-up against the Czech Republic on Tuesday night.
Mourinho feels the 26-year-old attacking midfielder could be the key to unlock this England side's potential, believeing that Grealish plays without any fear.
"England look like a shy team, so they need Jack Grealish against the Czech Republic tonight. He looks like he has always been on that stage," the Portuguese tactician told The Sun.
"The guy is brave. The guy never played a European match for his club but he arrives in the national team and is fearless.
"He risks. He gambles. He loses the ball. He creates. He kicks people. People kick him. He creates instability in opponents. And he wins free-kicks.
"You win free-kicks in wide areas then you go with Harry Maguire or Tyrone Mings or John Stones and Harry Kane – and England are powerful on set-pieces.
"England looked a shy team against Scotland because they were a team without that thing that Grealish has.
"I don't like comparing players – and Luis Figo was at a different level – but Grealish is like Figo in that he'll demand the ball. He says, 'Give me the ball and I will resolve this!'
"Grealish didn't play amazingly when he came on against Scotland, but how many times did he have the ball? How many fouls did they commit on him? How many one-against-ones did he create? England need these qualities."
