He has the experience but taking months to adjust to the Serie A
It's taking Ricardo Quaresma more than a few months to adjust to the Serie A. I can't wait for him to show Serie A fans how important and decisive he can be in a game. In a way Quaresma was lucky to be in the Inter starting lineup in the first month because of Figo's injury.
Inter is in the Champions League. Quaresma is no stranger to that competition. He played in it with FC Porto and even scored at Stamford Bridge aginst Mourinho's Chelsea. He played with the best team in the Portuguese league, FC Porto. A team pressured to win every game. Apparently, it's one thing to play for FC Porto and another for Inter in the Serie A.
With Figo recovering, competition increases for Quaresma
A few days ago, Figo started training with the ball for the first time again. Now the battle, or competition begins between Mancini and Quaresma.
Regular playing time with Inter keeps him as a candidate for the starting lineup in the Portugal team
The main competition for Quaresma in the Portugal team are wingers/ attacking midfielders Nani and Simao. Cristiano Ronaldo too but he'll always be guaranteed a place when he's fit. Quaresma was lucky in the last Portugal game that Simao was injured. However he was kept unfairly too long on the bench after seeing how Nani was not playing his best.
The next Portugal game is friendly Brazil - Portugal on Nov. 19, 2008. I hope Carlos Queiroz puts Ricardo Quaresma in the starting lineup. It will be fun seeing him face his Inter teammates Mancini and Adriano.
Mourinho acknowledged that we haven't seen the best Quaresma yet.
On Sunday, November, 9 2008 after Inter struggled to beat Udinese (Inter 1-0 Udinese), Mourinho acknowledged that we haven't seen the best Quaresma yet. It was a home game and Quresma played only in the first half. He was replaced by Julio Cruz at the beginning of the second half. Mourinho said in Italian:
"I know that this is not the real Quaresma, but I had told him to play three games calmly, without thinking of playing good or bad. I did the same thing with Mancini. He also had three games to play without any pressure. They both did it and I am pleased. Quaresma is a good guy. He knows he's ont playing well and now he can rest mentally. We have to help him because this is not the real Quaresma.
It can be that, for him, right now it is harder to play in San Siro than away, but clearly I don't think we just have a player that can play well only away. Anyway, I respect the criticisms of the fans. My philosophy is always the same: the fans are always right. We work for the club and are concentrated in our job 24/7. We're also the first ones who want wins."
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