Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 966 Sat. February 17, 2007  
   
Sports


Humble Casillas


Real Madrid keeper Iker Casillas said if Barcelona were in crisis following the controversial comments of Barcelona star Samuel Eto'o then Real Madrid were really in trouble.

Barcelona's three-time African footballer of the year Samuel Eto'o criticised coach Frank Rijkaard and Brazilian team-mate Ronaldinho on Tuesday after the Dutch coach said in a post-match press conference the Cameroonian had refused to come on as a substitute in Sunday's 2-0 victory over Racing Santander.

Eto'o was also upset at post-match comments by Ronaldinho that he should be more of a team player.

Casillas said on Thursday there were problems in all football dressing rooms.

"This is more of a media affair than a player's one," Casillas said. "There are problems in every dressing room."

He refuted the idea that there was a crisis at Barcelona, who top the Spanish league by three points from Sevilla. "If Barcelona are in crisis, then we have really fallen off the edge," he joked. "Their crisis makes me laugh." Real Madrid, who have lost seven times in the league this season, are in third spot, five points behind league leaders Barcelona.

Eto'o also got backing from another Brazilian team-mate, Juliano Belletti.

"Eto'o has a very strong personality but I am sure that once he scores again we will forget everything," the defender told a press conference in Barcelona.

"We were all surprised (by his outburst) but today everything is carrying on as normal," he added.