Jose Mourinho blown away by 'fantastic' Leeds United player after Euro 2020 display

Jose Mourinho has singled out Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips for praise after his impressive showing in England’s 1-0 win over Croatia on Sunday.
Kalvin Phillips. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)Kalvin Phillips. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Kalvin Phillips. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

The Elland Road favourite played a key role in the Three Lions’ narrow victory, providing a solid foundation in the heart of midfield alongside Declan Rice, and laying on the assist for Raheem Sterling's winner after some smart footwork in the final third.

Reflecting on England’s display at Wembley, Mourinho was in little doubt as to who his standout performer was.

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Speaking on talkSPORT, the former Tottenham manager said: “Kalvin Phillips He a player without international experience. He’s not a player that arrives from the Champions League, he doesn’t arrive with 20, 25 caps.

“He is a player that arrived last season from the Championship and of course he played the whole season in the most intense and difficult league in the world.

“He showed amazing personality. Rice was stable like he always is, but Phillips was more than stable.

“He showed that not just with the goal but also in the way he was pressing high, he was in a position side to side with Declan Rice but every time Modric or Kovacic were dropping, trying to go away from them, he was not afraid of pushing up and trying to press higher.

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“I don’t remember him missing a pass in a dangerous building up area.

“I think he was very, very good and when you see one of these young guys appearing in these big stages and performing the way he did, it is fantastic.”