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Whistled Casillas accepts blame for latest Real flop
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REAL Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas accepted some of the blame for the European champion’s latest La Liga failure after it was beaten 1-2 by city rival and champion Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
Casillas, 33, celebrated 15 years since his Real debut on Friday but a section of fans at the Santiago Bernabeu was feeling less than nostalgic and roundly whistled their captain after Atletico went ahead from a corner in the 10th minute.
Supporters elsewhere in the stadium attempted to drown out the protests with applause, while others called for president Florentino Perez to step down as big-spending Real slipped into something of a mini-crisis in the early part of the season.
Casillas was beaten by a close-range header from Atletico midfielder Tiago and some fans clearly felt he could have done more to prevent the goal.
Despite the departure of Diego Lopez, who was first choice in La Liga last term while Casillas played in the Champions League, the Real captain’s place in the team is far from assured after the club bought Costa Rica stopper Keylor Navas from Levante in the close season.
The reverse to Atletico, the first time Real’s crosstown rival has won twice in a row at the Bernabeu, left Carlo Ancelotti’s side with three points from three matches and it is already six points adrift of early leader Barcelona.
In its last La Liga outing at the end of last month, Real let slip a two-goal lead at Real Sociedad and was beaten 2-4 and quickly needs to rediscover its form with tomorrow’s Champions League Group B opener against Basel looming.
“The fans have the final say and if they think they should whistle you have to accept it and respect their opinions,” Casillas said.
“We have to try to change the dynamic,” added the Spain captain. “They are within their rights and all I can do is respond in the way I know how, by playing football.”
After Tiago headed home Koke's corner, Real was soon level as Cristiano Ronaldo won and then converted a penalty midway through the first-half.
However, with suspended coach Diego Simeone watching on from the stands, Atletico grabbed all three points 13 minutes from time when Arda Turan swept home Juanfran’s low cross.
“We still have difficulties ahead to have the consistency we want, but with the work rate they showed and the play they showed in the second-half I am happy,” said Simeone.
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