Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho. Getty Images/JUSTIN TALLIS

La Liga's Almería manager Francisco Rodríguez has claimed that the Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has a cruel streak in his dealings with players.

After getting nine points from the first ten domestic league games in the current campaign, Almeria, who host Spanish giants Barcelona on Saturday, are in 14<sup>th position in the La Liga table.

When asked during a sports management event ahead of the Barcelona game which managers have inspired him, Rodriguez said, according to AS: "I identified myself with Pep Guardiola and Diego Simeone".

While speaking about Mourinho, he said: "We all know that he gets a lot out of his teams."

"But maybe he doesn't have that much affection for them as human beings; we have seen clear examples that he doesn't mind humiliating them."

At the same time when qasked to compare Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the Almeria boss took a a side-swipe at the Real Madrid star.

"Messi will be grateful to all of the teammates he has had during his professional career," he said.

The only person I know who is happy to get individual awards, and he said the same thing himself at a ceremony this week, is Cristiano Ronaldo. But he is a very good player and you have to be very good to say that."

Ronaldo recently picked up the Golden Shoe award which share with Luis Suarez after scoring 31 league goals last season and is now the favourite to take home his third Ballon D'or.

Rodriguez took charge of the Spanish side in 201 and at 35 become the youngest manager in La Liga. Last season he avoided relegation to the second division in dramatic style - on the last match day.