Iker Casillas addressed several major talking points surrounding Real Madrid during a La Liga pre-Clásico event, including the confrontation between Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni at Valdebebas.
The former Madrid captain attempted to minimize the significance of the incident, insisting that disagreements inside a dressing room are normal during difficult moments in a season.
“These things happen in football,” Casillas explained. “Everything has a solution. Situations like this happened even
during our time as players.”
According to Casillas, emotional reactions are inevitable when expectations are high and results are not matching standards. Real Madrid have endured a turbulent campaign compared to the success they enjoyed in recent years, and the legendary goalkeeper believes frustration naturally builds in those circumstances.
“It happens when players are angry,” he said. “Football goes through cycles. There are periods where everything works and you win consistently, like Real Madrid experienced in previous seasons. Then there are moments where things become more difficult.”
The Madrid icon also weighed in on the club’s coaching situation and expressed strong support for the return of Xabi Alonso.
“I would absolutely choose Xabi Alonso,” Casillas said. “He is the ideal coach for Real Madrid.”
Casillas acknowledged that managerial decisions do not always produce immediate success, pointing to the club’s decision to dismiss Rafa Benítez in 2016 before ultimately going on to dominate European football under Zinedine Zidane.
“When decisions are made, they do not always work out perfectly at first,” Casillas explained. “You have to analyze everything in context. The example with Rafa Benítez shows how quickly football can change afterward. In the end, results day by day are what determine everything.”
