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Real Madrid's Iker Casillas hails Jose Mourinho's empathy towards Barcelona's Tito Vilanova
The Spain international believes his coach deserves recognition for his consoling words for the man he poked in the eye earlier this season, who underwent surgery on Tuesday
Nov 23, 2011 11:28:00 AM
By Salvatore Landolina
PROSHOTS
Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has praised Jose Mourinho's empathy towards Barcelona assistant coach Tito Vilanova.
"Mourinho's gesture is 10 out of 10 and hats off to him," Casillas is quoted as saying on Marca.com. "I think sometimes people always like debate and have an opinion on certain things, but when I saw Mourinho's gesture I thought it was top-notch."
Vilanova underwent an operation on Tuesday morning to remove a tumour found on his parotid gland. Hours later Mourinho, who infamously poked Vilanova in the eye in his side's 3-2 defeat in the second leg of the Spanish Supercopa at Camp Nou earlier this year, showed his concern for the Spaniard and wished him a good recovery.
Casillas is not surprised with Mourinho's cultured approach - in stark contrast with the uncouth ways he showed during the brawl in August.
"It was really nice of him to wish Vilanova well and we all feel the same way," he added. "But, I think there will be some people who don't like it when Mourinho says these kind of things. In any case, hats off to Mourinho. He is someone I know very well and he says things because he feels that way."
Following Real Madrid's stellar 6-2 Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb, La Liga action resumes for Mourinho and Co on Saturday and they play a city derby against Atletico Madrid.
"It's a derby where everyone is watching and I am sure Atletico will want to play a good game," he said. "I don't think we are favourites, but we all know that we are doing really well of late. Our aim is to take things one game at a time."
Madrid leads the Spanish championship race, three points above Barcelona.
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"Mourinho's gesture is 10 out of 10 and hats off to him," Casillas is quoted as saying on Marca.com. "I think sometimes people always like debate and have an opinion on certain things, but when I saw Mourinho's gesture I thought it was top-notch."
Vilanova underwent an operation on Tuesday morning to remove a tumour found on his parotid gland. Hours later Mourinho, who infamously poked Vilanova in the eye in his side's 3-2 defeat in the second leg of the Spanish Supercopa at Camp Nou earlier this year, showed his concern for the Spaniard and wished him a good recovery.
Casillas is not surprised with Mourinho's cultured approach - in stark contrast with the uncouth ways he showed during the brawl in August.
"It was really nice of him to wish Vilanova well and we all feel the same way," he added. "But, I think there will be some people who don't like it when Mourinho says these kind of things. In any case, hats off to Mourinho. He is someone I know very well and he says things because he feels that way."
Following Real Madrid's stellar 6-2 Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb, La Liga action resumes for Mourinho and Co on Saturday and they play a city derby against Atletico Madrid.
"It's a derby where everyone is watching and I am sure Atletico will want to play a good game," he said. "I don't think we are favourites, but we all know that we are doing really well of late. Our aim is to take things one game at a time."
Madrid leads the Spanish championship race, three points above Barcelona.
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