Casillas says players are to blame for Real's problems
Goalkeeper Iker Casillas says the players are to blame for Real Madrid's poor form rather than Florentino Perez who resigned as president on Monday.
Goalkeeper Iker Casillas says the players are to blame for Real Madrid's poor form rather than Florentino Perez who resigned as president on Monday.
France midfielder Zinedine Zidane, Brazil striker Ronaldo, and England captain David Beckham, three of Real's galacticos, were united in their surprise at Perez's shock decision.
It came hot on the heels of a 2-1 defeat at lowly Real Mallorca in the Primera Liga and six days after a 1-0 home defeat by Arsenal in the Champions League.
"The people responsible are the players," Casillas told a news conference on Tuesday.
"The game the other day wasn't good. It wasn't that we didn't compete which is something we always try to do, but that our play wasn't up to the standard we have set ourselves."
"When you see that we have been poor in consecutive games that were so important, it is clear that we are the ones to blame, and we are the ones that have to change and improve our play."
Perez singled out the attitude of the players as one key reason for his disillusionment and said he hoped his departure would be the spark the club needed to save their season.
A third successive season without silverware would be the club's worst run of form in 52 years.
Beckham is set to open negotiations on a contract extension with Real before the summer and said this month he was 99 percent certain to stay at the Bernabeu.
"I have a great relationship with Perez but I also have a great relationship with the other board members, directors, players and fans," he told reporters in England.
"After my last talks with them they said they wanted me to stay for a few more years. Whether that changes I won't know until I get back to Madrid."
Brazil striker Ronaldo, who had caused widespread consternation at the club last week by criticising the fans for their lack of support, appeared to have already set his mind on leaving before the end of his contract in 2008.
On hearing about Perez's departure Ronaldo was quoted on the Marca website as saying:
"It is a pity he has left us but we are professionals and we must continue looking forward. I am not thinking about my future till the end of the season."
Already knocked out of the King's Cup, Real are now 10 points adrift of league leaders Barcelona and trailing in their Champions League first knockout round tie.