Player egos have killed Madrid

As it has been proved once too many times, it doesn’t matter whether you’re the Special One or not at Real Madrid. Player power will shut you out of the team’s control and drag you down till you’re out of the job. What is happening between Jose Mourinho and Iker Casillas isn’t a surprise at all for those who know the Santiago Bernabeu - perhaps the only surprise is that such challenges have also had a toll on a man with unique and top quality skills and with an iron will for silverware.Mourinho decided to bench Casillas for a game they eventually lost to Malaga, and all hell broke loose for the Special One. Casillas then voiced his dissent at being benched, a ‘tragedy’ he has never experienced before.The anti-Mourinho Madrid press is calling for his head without even considering the fact that Casillas’s off-form falters have had a hand in Madrid’s to mediocrity this season. This is the kind of behavior you cannot get at Manchester United, Arsenal or Juventus and it is amazing that a club with such a pedigree as Madrid can tolerate such nonsense.Mourinho’s treatment at Madrid leaves a sour taste in the mouth of many football neutrals. First, there is the saddening disease affecting Madrid fans and owners which gives them the attitude that a Portuguese is stealing their club. They forget that their team hasn’t had stable management since 2000 and probably the reason for their underachievement.Even the other Portuguese at Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo, is facing an unwanted crisis. Had he been Spanish, he would be given all support to be crowned the best footballer in the world, something he has coveted for a while now. Instead, he is on a one man mission to be recognised against a Lionel Messi who is loved, protected and promoted by all Catalonians.Madrid fans and owners need to understand that their glory days are over- and that Mourinho and Ronaldo are the best two things that have graced the white jersey in as many years.Players like Casillas who have an ill-advised ego need to act professionally and understand that the club is not about individuals but teamwork.Manchester United is metal, City is strawOnce again on the Boxing Day, were treated to a memorable game, the kind that Manchester United is always willing to provide. The title pretenders who live in the blue side of Manchester were only left gaping wondering how this kind of magic can be created. Truth be told, City also created some kind of magic in their last game of last season, stealing a magical win against QPR to be crowned champions. From how this season has turned out, however, Mancini must be investigated for stealing Fergie’s notes on deadly comebacks.It seems coming back from behind to win almost every game this season wasn’t enough drama. So the gaffer created another atmosphere that maximised the skill of coming from behind. Newcastle played the game of their life, going in front thrice, each time looking like the last nail in United’s coffin. Somehow, the Red Devils would crawl back each time, until they won the game with the only goal of the match that put them in the leading position.Choosing to start with loyal veterans Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes seemed a gamble and, from where I watched the game, United fans had started scolding the gaffer for fielding a side without Rooney (injured) Young or Cleverly.If Fergie wanted to prove who the boss is, he did it very well against Newcastle. Disgruntled United fans will always get reason to smile after 90 minutes, regardless of whom Sir Alex decides should play.