Madrid – Jose Mourinho has decided to bow out as coach of Real Madrid with controversy rather than reconciliation, leaving out club and national captain Iker Casillas from the squad for the final league game at home to Osasuna later Saturday.
Mourinho has been locked in an acrimonious feud with Casillas since December, reportedly because he believed that the veteran goalkeeper was leaking confidential dressingroom information to his journalist girlfriend, who was then publishing it.
The Portuguese coach sensationally dropped Casillas for a crucial game at Malaga in December, claiming that understudy Antonio Adan, 26, was in a “much better physical condition” than the 32 year-old veteran.
Mourinho was rewarded with a shaky display from Adan, and a 3-2 defeat which left the side far behind runaway leaders Barcelona.
Even so, Casillas, who is generally considered to be the number one keeper in the world, was kept on the bench for league matches, to the astonishment of a country that idolized him for leading Spain to their first World Cup triumph and two Euro victories. It was the first time he had been dropped since 2002.
Casillas was relegated to playing in the Spanish cup, and broke a finger in his left hand at Valencia. He was out of action for two months, without Mourinho showing any sympathy or solidarity for him.
Mourinho urged the club to sign Diego Lopez, 31, who was the reserve at Sevillla, to take Casillas' place in the squad.
Lopez was then picked ahead of Adan and made a good start, helping Real to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.
He continued between the posts after Casillas recovered his fitness, but then looked slow and error-prone in the Champions defeat against Borussia Dortmund and, especially, in the Spanish cup final defeat at home to Atletico Madrid.
Most of the media and fans believe that Real would not have lost to Dortmund and Atletico with Casillas in goal – or with Pepe in defence.
Pepe was dropped by Mourinho for having said on television that the coach had shown “a lack of respect” towards Casillas.
Two weeks ago Real's embattled president Florentino Perez – who is about to be automatically re-elected for another four year-spell, in the absence of any opposition candidates – announced that Mourinho's contract had been “terminated by mutual agreement”, thus bringing an end to his stormy three-year spell at the Estadio Bernabeu.
Mourinho is poised to return to Premier League giants Chelsea, according to media reports.
It was expected that Casillas would play against Osasuna because Lopez is unavailable due to a minor ear operation. Radio Marca said Friday that it was Mourinho's chance to “finish on a high note” by “burying the hatchet” with Casillas.
But then Mourinho raised eyebrows and indignation with his squad, leaving out Casillas without giving a reason. Also omitted are Pepe plus Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo – two other players who have criticized Mourinho in public – though the Portuguese coach did claim that they minor muscle injuries.
Radio Marca called Mourinho “mean and vindictive” Saturday, for his continued feud against Casillas and Pepe. Cadena SER said “he has shown himself, once again, to be petty and mean-spirited.”
Meanwhile, AS commented that Mourinho had “missed his last chance to have a public reconciliation with Casillas ... He intends to be bitter and vindicative until the very end.”
In goal will be Adan, with youngster Jesus Fernandez on the bench – and Casillas up in the stands.
Last week, Spain manager Vicente del Bosque included Casillas in his squad for the upcoming Confederations Cup and made it clear that he would continue as national capatain. Del Bosque also said he didn't understand why Casillas had not played more matches this season.
There were to be almost certainly be more jeers than cheers for Mourinho in his last appearance at the Estadio Bernabeu Saturday. Online polls have shown an overwhelming majority of fans to be pleased with his imminent departure.
The candidates to succeed him, according to the media, are Carlo Ancelotti, Jupp Heynckes and Andre Villas-Boas.
Real are 15 points behind champions Barcelona, who would equal the 100-point record established by Mourinho last season if they beat Malaga at home Saturday night. – Sapa-dpa