Casillas talks Huijsen red card, Xabi Alonso, Vinicius, Ballon d’Or – ‘Let the referees do their job’ | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s start to the season has been filled with positives so far as the club are yet to drop a point four games in the league campaign.

Later tonight, they step into the UEFA Champions League for the first time this season and will look to carry forward the same form into the new competition as they take on Olympique de Marseille.

Despite the arrival of Xabi Alonso initially being expected to take the team into a period of adaptation, the squad has rapidly understood and put his ideas into practice and there now seems to be a real identity to the team’s play.

Real Madrid legend speaks

Speaking to the media in a recent interview, Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas gave his verdict on these burning topics in addition to a few other fringe areas.

He began, however, by addressing the elephant in the room which was Real Madrid’s clear and understandable dismay at the refereeing in La Liga, especially after Dean Huijsen’s wrongful sending off against Real Sociedad.

“We will always have controversies. Whenever there is an expulsion in favour of Real Madrid, it will create controversy, and vice versa, the same,” he began.

“In the end, we have to let the referees do their job because they are exposed to a lot of pressure. What is going to touch you one day, the next may harm you,” he added siding with the referees, attracting criticism from Real Madrid fans.

The former goalkeeper then went on to speak about Real Madrid’s start to the season and how Los Blancos have done well so far.

“I see them very well. Getting four victories in the first four matchdays of La Liga gives you a cushion, a strength, and a fairly good dynamic that I hope can also take you to a competition like the Champions League, which is the fetish of Real Madrid,” he said.

The club legend then went on to give his opinion on Xabi Alonso’s early impact on the team and how he saw the former Real Madrid player’s abilities as a coach,

“Xabi has always been very intelligent. That favours him a lot off the field. He will make the most of all those players he can.”

Xabi Alonso has started off well at Real Madrid. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Elaborating on Vinicius Jr. and how the manager can unlock the best in the player, Casillas said,

“Vini is a very important player at Real Madrid. He is so decisive that at times he may not even realize it.”

“The one we have known at the back is marvelous, and I am sure that with Xabi he will get much more out of him than he has,” he added.

The Spanish legend then went on to give his two cents on the race for the Ballon d’Or and was clear that only a PSG player deserved to lift it.

“Someone who really deserves it. Dembele and Vitinha are in the pools because they have had a very good season. Lamine has achieved the Euro Cup and with the league and so on, but what gives you that plus is the Champions League.”

“He is very good and will be decisive for Spanish football, but if he doesn’t win it this year, he will do it next year,” he added, stating that Barcelona’s young star should not win this year.

Finally, Casillas spoke on the upcoming FIFA World Cup and Spain’s chances in the same.

“We can win. There are players and there is a coach. There is hope that we can get it. Let’s see how we get there. There are also other even teams.”

“One day you can play against the Netherlands and lose. I don’t see it as decisive as it was 15 years ago, we were four years where we had brutal respect. If they arrive well, they can be historic,” he added.

Source: Mundo Deportivo