Lopez deserves starting role - Casillas

Iker Casillas says Diego Lopez has earned the right to play in Primera Division games with performances which have taken Real Madrid to the top of the table.
The controversial policy -- first instigated last season by Ancelotti's predecessor, Jose Mourinho
-- has been criticised increasingly in the Spanish media of late. Lopez was blamed for not stopping Gabi Fernandez's long-range strike in last weekend’s 2-2 derbi draw against Atletico Madrid, while Casillas had excelled in the 6-1 Champions League win at Schalke the previous midweek. But the club captain told Madrid’s website that Ancelotti’s decision was understandable given how the team was playing in their domestic league outings. "If the boss has decided that I'm to play in the Copa and the Champions League then I want to do the best I can to help the team and play well," Casillas said. "It's been going on for a few months, and we aren't always going to be in this situation. Up until now the gaffer has gone with Diego in the league and he is playing very well. "We deserve to be league leaders and a lot of that is down to Diego." Madrid’s good form has led to hopes of a Liga, Copa and Champions League treble this season but, ahead of a big run of games which includes a league clasico against Barcelona at the Camp Nou on March 23, Casillas said Madridistas should not get too far ahead of themselves. "We have to go game by game," he continued. "We mustn't speculate about who will get to the Champions League final in Lisbon. "Now we must think about what we have to do in the month of March in order to get to the business end of the season in the best state possible and have it in our own hands." The 32-year-old added that the point gained at Atletico was a positive as Madrid had consolidated top spot in the Primera Division, having been five points back just two months ago. "I don't think it created any doubts," Casillas added. "[Atletico are] a hard side to beat and we knew that they were going to give their all; it is an important game and we have come out of it. "We have to give value to the lead we have. A few months ago we were behind. We have come back into contention and are where we want to be. We have to defend our place every week." Real Madrid currently lead Barcelona by a single point in the league with 64 points after 26 games, with city rivals Atletico three points behind.

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Iker Casillas salió a la defensa de Diego López

• Casillas aseguró que siempre va a respetar las decisiones del Director Técnico.

El portero del Real Madrid y de la Selección Española Iker Casillas ejerció de capitán en su más plena extensión e hizo una encendida defensa de Diego López, el guardameta titular en la Liga, del que dijo que es uno de los grandes culpables del liderato.

"Hasta ahora el míster ha optado por Diego en una competición en la que está haciendo las cosas muy bien. Somos líderes por méritos propios y gran parte de culpa de ser líderes la tiene Diego. Cuando tengo la posibilidad de jugar porque el míster lo considera, intento hacerlo como lo venía haciendo los últimos años", afirmó.

"Siempre hay que analizar la aportación de los jugadores en la competición que haya querido el míster. Hay que acatar las órdenes. Claro que cada uno siempre quiere jugar más. Siempre lo he dicho durante las últimas semanas, el entrenador es el que decide. Si ha optado porque participe en la Copa y la Champions intentaré hacerlo lo mejor posible para ayudar al equipo. Es algo de meses atrás y no vamos a estar siempre con lo mismo", declaró.

Defendió a Diego López tras las críticas surgidas por su actuación en el segundo tanto del Atlético de Madrid el pasado domingo: "Estamos hablando de un gol que hay que analizarlo y verlo. Hay jugadores delante que impiden la visión. Todo lo que se ha hablado después es rellenar y hablar. Hay que tener respeto por los jugadores, que son los que están en el campo y los que viven las circunstancias".

Iker Casillas, respecto a la 'rotación' que el italiano Carlo Ancelotti también emplea para los laterales de la zaga, recalcó que "como capitán del Real Madrid hay que pedir un poco de respeto por todos los jugadores que forman la plantilla, eso es lo principal, sea quien sea y en el puesto que ocupe. No es cuestión de quién tiene que jugar o quién creo yo que es el mejor".

"Hay un entrenador que toma unas decisiones. Consensuará con sus ayudantes y pensará que futbolistas pueden ser mejores para cada partido. Son jugadores muy diferentes pero a la vez muy necesarios para una plantilla como el Real Madrid, hablo de los laterales como de los demás puestos", agregó.

Asimismo, aseguró que fácilmente le quedan cinco años por delante y que no se siente infravalorado: "Cuando sales por la calle siempre tienes muestras de cariño y para mí eso es un valor muy importante".

"Tienes que sentirte valorado contigo mismo. Tengo la autoestima muy alta y gran parte del éxito que haya podido tener en mi carrera se basa en la confianza que tengo en mí mismo", manifestó.

Casillas no quiere pensar de momento en la conquista de la décima Copa de Europa: "Lo que hemos hecho hasta ahora es lo mínimo que se nos pide, estar metidos en las tres competiciones y pelear por ellas. Somos líderes, estamos en la final de Copa y en Champions prácticamente tenemos el pase a cuartos".

"Hay que plantearse las cosas partido a partido. Este mes tenemos partidos muy complicados y muy difíciles. Ante un rival muy directo en el Bernabéu y antes tenemos al Levante y al Málaga, que se están jugando mucho por arriba y por abajo. No podemos especular con quién va a llegar a la final de Lisboa", apuntó.

En cuanto a la máxima competencia europea, afirmó: "No queremos hablar de cuartos a pesar de que es una eliminatoria que está casi decantada. Puede que se avecinen unos cuartos como hacía tiempo que no se veían. Muy buenos equipos, muy buenos jugadores. Todos van a ser cruces muy interesantes".

Para Iker Casillas las claves de la temporada pasan por "no bajar los brazos. El Madrid se caracteriza por eso, los jugadores tienen que estar al máximo nivel y no rendirse. Al Madrid se le va a exigir siempre el máximo y el máximo es estar siempre en el primer puesto, no vale el segundo".

El guardameta no quiso pronunciarse acerca de las críticas del portero luso Jose Mourinho en sus palabras a la edición británica de la revista 'Esquire' y consideró que el empate ante el Atlético en la última jornada no es un retroceso: "No creo que haya generado dudas".

"Era un rival difícil que iba a apretar mucho, un partido vital que hemos sacado adelante. Ese primer lugar hay que darle el valor que tiene. "Hasta hace poco parecía increíble que el Madrid estuviese casi a ocho puntos de los primeros puestos. Hemos conseguido remontar poco a poco. Tenemos que defender ese puesto todas las semanas. No es un paso atrás sino uno adelante para asegurar nuestra candidatura al campeonato de Liga", defendió.

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Manchester City's Manuel Pellegrini: 'I love managing Manchester United'

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has accidentally mistaken the Sky Blues for their city rivals United. The Chilean coach, who watched his side beat Sunderland 3-1 in the League Cup final on Sunday, was speaking after the match when he made the error, saying that he thrives on the pressure of managing a "big team like Manchester United". "I love pressure - to manage a big team like Manchester United and to [be competing in] all the competitions is very good for all of us," Pellegrini told reporters. City's boss went on to say that the club will fight hard to win more silverware this season.

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Manchester City 3-1 Sunderland

Manchester City and Sunderland met at Wembley this afternoon to contest the final of this season's League Cup. Underdogs Sunderland took a lead into the break courtesy of a strike from Fabio Borini, but quickfire goals soon after the restart from Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri put City in the ascendancy. Then, in the closing stages, as Sunderland pushed for an equaliser, they were caught on the break when Jesus Navas added a third for the Citizens to secure the trophy.
Manchester City completed the first part of a potential domestic treble by coming from behind to beat Sunderland 3-1 in the Capital One Cup final at Wembley today.



The pre-game favourites were given a scare after Fabio Borini's 10th-minute strike earned the Black Cats a 1-0 half-time lead.



However, stunning quick-fire strikes from Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri within 12 minutes of the restart helped City overturn the deficit before Jesus Navas made sure of the result in the final stages to seal Manuel Pellegrini's first title in England.



Pellegrini's charges fashioned the first attempt of the showpiece but fit-again Sergio Aguero saw his goal-bound effort parried away by Vito Mannone.

Moments later Gus Poyet's men took the lead. Borini latched on to Adam Johnson's over-the-top ball and managed to get the better of Vincent Kompany before firing past Costel Pantilimon from an angle.

The Italian had the opportunity to double Sunderland's lead shortly before the interval, racing through one-on-one with Pantilimon but Kompany's last-ditch tackle thwarted the Liverpool loanee before he could pull the trigger.

The Sky Blues emerged from the break reinvigorated the drew level on 55 minutes through Toure, whose long-range effort looped over Mannone and nestled in the top corner.

City then capitalised on the punch-drunk state of their North East counterparts once again minutes later, as Nasri's outside-the-boot effort from inside the box left Mannone stranded.

Steven Fletcher had a good chance to equalise with 20 minutes remaining but the Scotland international fired tamely into the grateful arms of Pantilimon.

Navas put the result beyond doubt in the dying embers, slotting beyond the Italian goalkeeper after a swift counter attack to cap the Citizens' first trophy of the season.

The Manchester giants stay on course for treble of domestic honours as Pellegrini's men remain in contention for the Premier League and FA Cup.

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Atletico Madrid 2-2 Real Madrid - as it happened

Week 26's standout La Liga clash pitted Atletico Madrid against Real Madrid at the Vicente Calderon. Los Blancos were ahead inside three minutes when Karim Benzema converted from close range, but goals from Koke and Gabi left the home side 2-1 ahead after a highly-charged first 45 minutes in the Spanish capital. The visitors had to wait until the last 10 minutes to level, however, with Cristiano Ronaldo's powerful effort securing a share of the spoils for Carlo Ancelotti's side. Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
 Cristiano Ronaldo scored inside the final 10 minutes to secure a 2-2 draw for Real Madrid over local and La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid in the Vicente Calderon



The visitors broke the deadlock just three minutes into the match, as Karim Benzema converted from close range following an Angel di Maria corner.

Ronaldo came close to adding a second, but Thibaut Courtois was able to divert his strike onto the post, keeping the home side in contention.

Atletico were back on level terms just two minutes later, as Arda Turan carved his way through the Real defence, before setting up Koke for the equaliser.



It looked like the sides would be heading into the break level, but the visitors failed to clear a free kick in stoppage time, allowing Gabi to lash the ball in from long range, giving his side the lead for the first time. Atletico had the majority of the ball at the start of the second half, but the visitors defended well to prevent them getting a clear chance for a third. However, Real's attack responded and came close to equalising when Luka Modric floated a high ball in for Benzema, but the striker's volley was just wide. Gareth Bale had an opportunity shortly after as he attempted to head in from a Di Maria free kick, but Courtois was able to make the save. The visitors kept applying pressure, and it paid off in the 82nd minute, when Ronaldo picked up a cross from Daniel Carvajal to drill the ball in for Real. Diego Costa had a chance to restore Atletico's lead in the final moments of the match, but Pepe made a solid block to ensure that the sides finished level.

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Iker Casillas wants Real Madrid stay

Iker Casillas has claimed that he wants to continue at Real Madrid until he is 40, but has conceded that he will depart the Bernabeu at some point in the future. The 32-year-old has been with Los Blancos since 1990, but has been forced to play second fiddle in the league to Diego Lopez over the last 18 months. Reports had claimed that the Spanish international could look to depart at the end of the season, but the stopper has revealed a desire to remain in Madrid. "I can play up to 40. If a goalkeeper is careful they can get to that age now, if you take care. I wish I could play at Madrid until I'm 40, but there will be a moment where it isn't possible," he told Melody FM. "When I finish my contract it'll raise the question of whether I stay at Madrid. I want to keep winning titles. It's wonderful to have the opportunity to win trophies and then go and enjoy it with the fans. "Often I think about what I'll do when I retire. I would like to remain connected to the world of football, to my club if they need my help." Casillas has been ever-present in both the Copa del Rey and Champions League this season.

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