Iker Casillas was today asked his opinion on who should coach Real Madrid in the future, and offered up a name from the club’s recent past.
Goalkeeper Casillas, who made over 500 appearances for Madrid in a glittering career that saw him win La Liga five times and the Champions League on three occasions, believes president Florentino Perez should re-hire Xabi Alonso, less than four months after he was sacked.
Alonso’s arrival last summer was supposed to usher in a new era at the Santiago Bernabeu with his high-press style deemed perfect to drag Madrid into the modern age after the conservative approach adopted by the experienced Carlo Ancelotti.
It did not work out, though, with the former Madrid midfielder dismissed amid poor results and claims of dressing room discontent with his methods. He was replaced by Alvaro Arbeloa but results have deteriorated and Madrid are now highly likely to end the season without a trophy.
Casillas says Perez was hasty in getting rid of Alonso and, speaking today at a promotional event for Movistar ahead of Sunday’s El Clasico at Barcelona, says he remains the best candidate for the job.
He said: “I would sign Xabi Alonso again. For me he was the perfect coach, always giving continuity and confidence. He gave success to Bayer Leverkusen and he is the right age for Real Madrid.
“But then decisions are made, like the day it was decided to fire Rafa Benítez for [Zinedine] Zidane and that went well.”
Despite Casillas’ wishes, Alonso won’t be returning to Madrid although another former Blancos boss could be with Jose Mourinho reportedly top of Perez’s wishlist.
Casillas and Mourinho had a bitter relationship during the Portuguese’s three-year spell at Madrid but the 2010 World Cup winner refused to re-open the wounds today.
“I start by saying that I don’t have any problem with anyone asking me about Mourinho, I don’t care,” he said. “We went through a difficult phase, it is what it is, but it’s over.”
Arbeloa is certain to leave at the end of the season but whoever replaces him will walk into a fractured dressing room with matters reaching a new low yesterday when a fracas between Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni resulting in the Uruguayan being taken to hospital with a brain trauma.
There have also been issues recently with Kylian Mbappe, Antonio Rudiger and Alvaro Carreras. Mundo Depotivo reported this morning that they believe Vinicius Jr is the dressing room mole that has been leaking the stories to the media.
Real Madrid troubles will make good times sweeter – Casillas
All is clearly not well but Casillas believes clubs have to go through these periods to appreciate the good times.
“Everything is cyclical,” said the former Spain international. “Now things do not go well for us but we are all football players, we want to win and, sometimes, these difficult moments come.
“Sometimes it is also good to go through this type of situation and then people value it more when things are good. But Madrid is the best club in history, according to FIFA, and that means always being in the spotlight. Madrid will be replenished. Everything has a solution.”
Next up for Madrid is a horribly timed clash with a Barcelona side who will be enjoying the chaos that has unfolded at their arch rivals this week.
Barca need just a point to clinch the title on Sunday.
