Former Argentina forward Diego Maradona has said Iker Casillas’ performance in Spain’s 5-1 loss to Holland on Friday proved Jose Mourinho was right to drop him at Real Madrid.
In his last season in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu, the Portuguese manager, who has gone two seasons without winning a trophy, decided to drop Los Blancos keeper Casillas in favour of Diego Lopez. The decision caused much debate in the media at the time, and divided the playing squad at the Santiago Bernabeu, with many siding with Casillas.
Carlo Ancelotti stuck with Lopez in goal in La Liga matches this season, although 32-year-old Casillas was the starting choice in the Copa del Rey and Champions League – both competitions that Los Blancos win this year.
But on Friday night, Casillas had one of the worst games of his career, being at fault for two of the Dutch goals.
Speaking to Telesur, Maradona said Mourinho was right to drop the keeper. He stated: “He had the worst game I’ve ever seen in my life…and it reminds me of what my friend Mourinho told everyone about him.
“He said Casillas wasn’t the right keeper and he paid for that. He had to leave, but in the end it turns out that Mourinho was right.”
He also criticized Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos for a lack of pace at the back, although Spain are unlikely to drop the defender for their crucial game against Chile next Wednesday.