Why Jose Mourinho benched Iker Casillas

Jose Mourinho put his Real Madrid future on the line by axing Spain goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas amid suggestions that he was inviting the club to fire him before Manchester United visit in the Champions League in February.

Madrid fell 16 points behind Barcelona ahead of the mid-winter break after losing 3-2 at Malaga last night, leaving president Florentino Perez under pressure to act.

Mourinho was asked if, at any point, he had thought of resigning. He replied: ‘No. Not during, or after.’


Asked why he left out Casillas he said: ‘It was a technical decision. A coach analyses the players and decides.’

Critics argue that the Portuguese has already decided to go at the end of the season and knows that if he is dismissed he would be due compensation of €20million (£16.3m) — hence the incendiary decision to leave out a club legend.

His supporters emphasise that the team have conceded seven of their 17 goals from set-pieces this season and point to Casillas’s weakness on crosses.

For Mourinho to drop the two-times European champion and World Cup winner is seen as provocative.

Former Real Madrid sporting director Jorge Valdano said of the decision: ‘It is a show of force, to prove he is stronger than one of the legends of the club.’

Mourinho insisted he has no intention of quitting as Real Madrid coach and does not fear for his job.