Antonio Adan has suffered because of Jose Mourinho’s poor man-management of Iker Casillas, Graham Hunter told Revista.
The Portuguese coach once again opted to go with the inexperienced 25-year-old stopper and leave his World Cup and multiple La Liga and Champions League winning keeper – and club captain – Casillas on the bench for the home game with Real Sociedad on Sunday.
However, that move back-fired when Adan was sent off after just six minutes for bringing down Carlos Vela in the box. Mourinho was forced to bring on Casillas and, although Madrid went on to win the game 4-3, Hunter believes the former Chelsea and Inter Milan’spolicy is not beneficial to the club.
“I’ve no doubt this is a disciplinary thing based on a running feud,” said the Spanish football journalist. “It’s the wrong decision, for the wrong reasons, at the wrong time.
“I have sympathy for Adan; he’s a decent guy, with whom Casillas has a terrific relationship, a guy who could have gone on to be Real Madrid’s goalkeeper, potentially, or gone on to another big club. He was persuaded to stay in the summer but this is part of the premium for having stayed.
“[This situation] is not helping Casillas, nor the club, nor Adan – and that makes it the wrong decision.”
Hunter also believes Mourinho’s personality is clashing with the attitudes of his players and says the coach – despite his success elsewhere around Europe – is struggling to manage the big names at Real.
“This is the first time Mourinho has gone to a club that he can generally say is the biggest club the world, the first time he has been to a club where the players are routine winners of every single trophy you can imagine,” said Hunter.
“I don’t think he knows where the stop button is, when to leave them in peace and when not to torment them.
“His ego has come into it and that is his key fault.”
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