Jorge Jesus on Johan Cruijff, who passed away age 68 this week

Jorge Jesus added his own words to a growing list of tributes to Johan Cruijff today. The Alvalade coach actually spent a spell with Cruijff in 1993, when the Dutchman was heading up Barcelona's Dream Team.

“As a coach he was a real idol for me for his art and creativity on the pitch, but what made me really like him was the way he set his team out at Barcelona. It is the same idea that is still used today, by Luís Enrique. It was a really unique culture. It was completely out of the normal, a really attacking style. Cruijff saw football a lot differently compared to everyone else. For him, football was an art. It wasn't just for the sake of it that he said he would prefer to win 5-4 than 1-0. For Cruijff, it wasn't enough to win. The team had to put on a show and Barcelona still think like that today. He passed that idea of Total Football on to Guardiola and Luis Enrique. Today we lost a man who gave a lot of ideas and respect to the game", Commented Jesus, adding: "I was also a bit influenced by the idea that just winning isn't enough. I am a big fan of that idea and that is how I see football, but there is only Cruijff. He is one of the mentors of modern football."