Casilla: Real madrid's managerial change was a failure

Before Real Madrid's away game against Espanyol, former goalkeeper Casilla, who played for both clubs, was interviewed by the newspaper "AS", where he focused on the current situation of Real Madrid.

Foreword

Casilla was born in Alcover, Tarragona province in 1986. Like ordinary people, he has experienced lows in his life, but overall he can be considered to have had a smooth life. He trained in Real Madrid's youth academy for seven years, left at the age of 21, and returned to Real Madrid at the age of 28, coinciding with the team's three consecutive Champions League titles, a career full of opportunities.

He also played for Espanyol for five seasons. He has always admired Iker Casillas, and he also took over the baton from his idol in the national team to complete his national team debut. During his career, he played under Zidane and Bielsa, and he has always been frank and straightforward. Now he is about to witness the confrontation between two teams he has played for that are in trouble, and his heart is filled with mixed feelings.

Are you still involved in the world of football?

Yes. For the past two years, I have been working as a commentator for the Segunda División matches in La Liga, which allows me to express my love for football. I enjoy my current job, and it feels more like a hobby than a career to me. At the same time, I am also studying for a coaching certificate, and I plan to specialize in goalkeeping coaching in the future.

Which team needs to win this game more, Espanyol or Real Madrid?

Both teams desperately need a victory. I know this sounds contradictory, Espanyol desperately needs to win to avoid further sinking into the quagmire of poor results; while Real Madrid needs a victory to restore the poor image of the past month and rebuild the team's confidence and morale.

Espanyol has not won in 16 consecutive games...

I find it difficult to understand why the team has fallen to this point after performing amazingly in the first half of the season. I am afraid that even coach Manolo González cannot explain the real reason. The team lineup has not changed, and neither has the coach, but the results are completely different. I think the team is caught in a negative psychological vicious circle, making it difficult to escape the predicament. The problem is more in the mentality, rather than the competitive tactics themselves.

How is the team's goalkeeper Dmitrovic performing?

Without him, the team's situation would be even more difficult. He has filled the gap left by Joan Garcia's departure well and has won many points for the team. He is calm and reliable, a very good goalkeeper, and I admire him very much.

If they suffer another defeat, the team's alarm bells will be ringing fully...

The team is now at a dangerous crossroads. The next month's schedule is difficult, and they must get out of the current slump no matter what. I don't want the team to be relegated in the end, but scoring points is urgent. The teams at the bottom of the standings are also constantly scoring points, the danger of relegation is approaching, and the team will be under great pressure.

Real Madrid's performance this season is also disappointing...

No one expected Real Madrid to have such a season, with multiple negative factors superimposed. The injury problem can be described as a disaster, which seriously dragged down the team's record in many key games. Changing the head coach midway, the lack of depth in the team's lineup, and some unfortunate events in some games, all these factors intertwined, creating this terrible season. The team has always lacked a stable competitive state, and stability is the key to standing in La Liga.

Has Arbeloa done anything better than Xabi Alonso since taking over the team?

From an objective data and competition record point of view, the answer is obviously no. The team can occasionally perform well, such as against Manchester City, but it has never formed a stable and mature tactical system, which is the change that everyone expected to see after replacing Xabi Alonso.

How much did Courtois's absence affect the team in the second half of the season?

Losing the world's best goalkeeper will definitely have a significant impact. However, Lunin himself is strong, and his overall performance this season has been quite good.

Courtois or Iker Casillas, who do you approve of more?

This is a difficult choice, but I would choose Iker Casillas. He has always been my benchmark, and I have witnessed him make countless incredible saves. Not making a polite perfunctory evaluation, in my opinion, Courtois is the world's best goalkeeper in recent years, and Iker Casillas is the best goalkeeper in football history.

You have always admired Iker Casillas...

When I was young, my room was full of posters of him. He was my well-deserved idol. Later, I was fortunate enough to become a Real Madrid teammate with him, and I also replaced him in the national team to complete my debut. These memories are unforgettable, Iker Casillas is a football legend in my heart.

Your national team debut was supposed to be a highlight of your life, but it was spoiled by Kroos's goal?

That's true. I later joked with Kroos about this in person, and he laughed it off. In the friendly match against Germany at that time, I replaced my idol Iker Casillas in the 76th minute and realized my dream of making my national team debut.

It was raining heavily on the day of the game, and Kroos finished the shot at the end of the game. The ball bounced in front of me, and the field was heavily flooded, and I couldn't save the ball. This mistake of saving the ball left a psychological shadow on me, but fortunately, with the passage of time, I slowly walked out of the knot.

Can Vinicius and Mbappe coexist, or is one of them redundant?

I often hear people say that they perform better when they play separately, but I think the two top stars can play at the same time. The only problem is that when they are on the same court, the team's defensive rigor will decline, requiring them to make more sacrifices on the defensive end.

They must have the awareness to press the opponent's ball in time, and at the same time solve the offensive problems with their personal talent; but the prerequisite is that everyone must unify their thinking, and everyone must be involved in the defensive pursuit.

Where should Real Madrid start the road to reconstruction?

Rather than struggling with the choice of signings, I think the primary core is to reshape the mentality of the players. In the game, we can often see that the players' concentration is scattered, and they always think of relying on their own talent to reverse the wind after losing the ball, but now all teams are fully prepared, and relying on personal talent alone is not enough to rewrite the battle.

The talent on the court must be matched with unremitting struggle for 90 minutes of the whole game to be valuable. The team urgently needs to improve the overall concentration and continuous stability of the whole team.

Do you prefer Ancelotti or Mourinho-style coaches?

I have always believed that the performance of the players is the key to determining the success or failure of a coach. The team's record and performance on the court ultimately depend mainly on the players themselves. An excellent coach can add icing on the cake to the team, but if the players are not willing to devote themselves wholeheartedly, no matter how good the tactics are, they will not be able to land. This is why I emphasized earlier that the players' mentality must be changed. As long as the players do their best and the whole team unites, anyone can succeed.

Do you think it is easier for Espanyol to be relegated or for Real Madrid to win the national derby?

Both things are possible. Real Madrid has suffered a setback in morale and will definitely try to win at the Camp Nou, and Barcelona's high defensive formation will just provide opportunities for Real Madrid's tactics. However, out of deep affection for the Espanyol club, I still hope that the team can successfully stay in the league.

Who should be the starting goalkeeper for the Spanish national team in the World Cup?

I think Unai Simón will be the starter. His performance this season has been stable, and he has not made any mistakes that would lose his main position.

Would you personally choose him to start?

This is a very tricky choice, and I don't have a clear answer either. Coach De la Fuente will also be in a dilemma. Perhaps in this World Cup, I would prefer Unai Simón to start, but apart from him and Raya, I think the future of the Spanish national team's goalkeeper position belongs to Joan Garcia.