Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon believes Jose Mourinho left the club because he couldn't handle the pressure that comes with the high-profile position.

BBC World Service passed along comments from Calderon, who led the Blancos in the three years before Mourinho arrived to manage. He states a Real job is unique in the amount of pressure it can place on people at the Bernabeu.

"To be a manager of Real Madrid is really, really difficult," Calderon said. "See what happened to Mourinho. He is someone who is used to coping with pressure and he couldn't."

He also discussed the state of the club when the outspoken boss left for Chelsea.

"When Mourinho left, things were in a really bad situation," Calderon said. "He had to leave the club after three years of a lot of problems, a lot of confrontations."

 

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Mourinho had some success during his time with Real. He won a La Liga championship along with titles in the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup. But the 2012-13 campaign was one to forget and he soon left the side before ending up back the Blues for a second stint.

It's interesting to see Calderon speak out on the subject since the two didn't cross paths during their respective tenures with the club. He would know about the high level of scrutiny that comes with trying to keep the Blancos among the best sides in Europe, though.

Now the question is whether Mourinho will feel the need to respond to the remarks. If he does, his track record suggests he won't hold back in his rebuttal.