Casillas returns fire at Mourinho

Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has hit back at Jose Mourinho for suggesting some players spent too much time relaxing over the break.

A sluggish performance from the Spanish giants saw them slip to a 2-0 deficit at half-time against Malaga in Tuesday’s Copa del Rey last-16 first-leg clash, but a triple substitution at the break triggered a 3-2 comeback win.

In the wake of the game, Mourinho castigated his players for their poor first-half performance, but Casillas has now responded by saying his team-mates deserve a rest during the holidays.

“Christmas is a time to relax, unwind, be with the family and not think about football,” Casillas said.

“Sometimes it is necessary to do certain things when things are not going well and we have lost concentration.”

“It’s normal the coach demands much more and we can have no complaints, because it was there for everybody to see in the first half when we conceded two goals from dead ball situations. It is also normal that people talk about it and it isn’t strange that the coach does too.”

The 30-year-old went on to echo his desire for Real Madrid to succeed on all three fronts this season.

“We want to go far in all three competitions. I ask that my colleagues all have a good season,” he said.

Real Madrid restart their league campaign with a home match against Granada this Saturday.

Mourinho’s men sit three points clear of their arch-rivals Barcelona at the top of the table.