The return of Mourinho also stirs a sense of national pride for Andrade, who sees the coach and Cristiano Ronaldo as the ultimate standard-bearers for Portuguese football. He admitted to being "happy like a kid" to see the 63-year-old back in high-level competition, though he jokingly added a caveat regarding his own former club.
"Mourinho’s happy like a kid (to return to Real Madrid), huh? He’s a star. I wish him all the best. In Portugal, we’re lucky to have one of the best coaches in the world, like Mourinho, and to have players like Cristiano, who has been top-tier, the best, a Ballon d’Or winner who also played for Real Madrid. It’s very important for us to have them as our standard-bearers. That’s why I’m so excited about Mourinho signing again for Real Madrid and hoping he wins every game... except against Deportivo," Andrade concluded.