Casillas: Why Alonso’s critics are off-target — and Mourinho’s memories aren’t over

Background and Context

Iker Casillas, the former Real Madrid star, offers a strong show of support for his former teammate and current Madrid boss Xabi Alonso amid the criticism he has faced. He emphasizes that judging Alonso now is premature.

“What Xabi is facing is completely unfair. He is a man who understands football well. We are in December, and some act as if the season is over.”

He adds: “We can assess matters when you are far behind or out of the competitions, but now the situation is exaggerated. Real evaluations come in June, not during the year.”

In the same talk, Casillas revisits his famous dynamic with former coach Jose Mourinho, noting: “With Mourinho it was like a love story. In the first season I was completely impressed; in the second I began to notice some things, and in the third it all ended.”

He continues: “We should have spoken for two days and faced what happened. Mourinho is a great coach with a strong personality, but I was also a team captain and had to deal with these traits. In the end everyone has their own temperament, and we should have talked more before things escalated.”

Casillas’ reflections underscore the delicate balance of leadership, pressure, and personal dynamics within a top club during a demanding season.

Punchline #1: If criticism burned calories, Alonso would be shredded by now; unfortunately, emotions don’t come with a workout plan.

Punchline #2: In football as in life, the only thing more offside than a sprint is a hot take in December.