Iker Casillas has admitted that in the week building up to Week 17’s trip to Malaga he sensed he would be dropped by Jose Mourinho.
The goalkeeper was named on the bench despite being available for selection for the first time in 10 years this weekend, for the trip south to the Costa del Sol.
Jose Mourinho described it afterwards as a ‘technical decision’ and it was one that his goalkeeper looked to offer little controversy over either.
“It is true that I am not used to it, but above all, I’ve learned that talking about Iker Casillas or any player does not come above the team that is trying to win games,” the Spain and Madrid captain told reporters at a charity event.
“The Coach is the one who then decides in the end who he sees fit to place in each encounter. So, I have no choice but to accept it, continue with my training and try to return again with a nice fight and healthy competition with Antonio Adan.
“More or less over the week I could sense that I may not have been in the team, but come on, really, there are no setbacks nor negative thinking. The most important thing was that the team won a vital game against Malaga and continued to maintain the distance behind Barcelona and Atletico.
“We have taken a step back in the League. What bugs me more than my substitution was losing the three points. The Coach felt Adan was better and that must be respected. Now I have to train hard to prove that the Coach could be wrong.”