MADRID: Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho spoke about the need for competition in the squad when he was asked on Saturday about the possible return to the starting lineup of goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas against Real Sociedad.
Mourinho stirred up controversy when he dropped Spain’s number one and played reserve keeper Antonio Adan for the last La Liga game before the mid-season break away at Malaga in December, when the champions slipped to a 3-2 defeat.
“To be permanently in the comfort zone isn’t good for players,” Mourinho told a news conference ahead of their return to action on Sunday at home to the Basque club.
“All positions on the pitch are about confidence, it is fundamental for all the players, not only for the keepers.
“This translates into performance, but just as confidence is important so is competition, and we will try and strike that balance.”
The former Chelsea and Inter Milan boss refused to be drawn on whether Casillas or Adan would start between the posts at the Bernabeu.
“They don’t even know who is going to play in goal yet,” he said.
“All I can say is, whoever plays against Real Sociedad will not play on Wednesday (in the King’s Cup).”
Meanwhile, Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain has returned to the Real squad for Sunday’s game after around two months out with a hamstring injury.
Real, who are third, trail second-place Atletico by seven points and Barca by 16 in La Liga. (Reuters)