Real Madrid

Iker Casillas: 'Tough run will make Zinedine Zidane stronger'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 08 November 2017

Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas insists that there is still plenty of time for the Spanish and European champions to get back on track this season.

Iker Casillas has insisted that Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane will have 'become stronger' after guiding his side through their tough recent run.

Los Blancos followed up a shock 2-1 loss to La Liga minnows Girona with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League last week.

Madrid find themselves fourth in the Spanish top flight, eight points adrift of leaders Barcelona, and are yet to seal progression on the European stage.

Club legend Casillas believes that Zidane will learn from the recent blip, however, having steadied the ship somewhat with a 3-0 win over Las Palmas prior to the international break.

"[Disappointing results] are going to make him stronger," he told Omnisport. "Everyone is waiting for a mistake from Real, but this is a team which has won two Champions Leagues in a row and no one could do that before.

"So apparently they are not in the best shape right now in La Liga and they have lost a game against Tottenham, but we have to wait. There are still a lot of games to come in La Liga. And it's the same for the Champions League; everything is going to be decided in February."

Real head to city rivals Atletico Madrid on November 18, before taking on Cypriot champions APOEL in the Champions League three days later.