Casemiro speaks on loss to Leganes

Casemiro was interviewed after Wednesday’s loss to Leganes, despite Real Madrid moving on to the next round of the Copa del Rey anyways.

“We lost the game but qualified, that’s what we wanted. If we talk about how we played, we lacked depth in the first half, but got better in the second.”

“We controlled the pace, their fans were boisterous, but we had the game under control. We know there are no easy games, now we are concentrating on the weekend.”

“We always play to win, we are not in a good place, let’s be honest, but we’re working hard.”

We’re in the Champions League last 16, a bit far behind in LaLiga and now we’re into the next round of the Copa del Rey. Now whatever happens we just have to win, regardless of who we face.”

Obviously, it was disappointing to see Real shut out in another road match. But, as Casemiro said, moving on is what they wanted. You never want to lose but when the stakes are completely low there’s no real reason for overreaction to it.

Many of the usual starters were rested (or injured) against Leganes and so the loss is not so much a bitter one. They turn their sights now to Sevilla on Saturday at the Bernabéu, a match they certainly cannot afford to lose.

Nacho believes Isco is an important player to the club

Nacho was interviewed by beIN Sports after the Leganes match, where he was asked his thoughts on the Isco situation.

“Isco is important for the team. He is one of the most important players on the team and he has to keep working.”

“The coach is with him and when he is on the field he has to make a statement.”

“It’s normal, he has had several games that he was not a starter for.”

“We were all in the same line-up and if we had not qualified it would have been a catastrophe.”

Isco finally received a start on Wednesday, it has seemed like pulling teeth trying to incorporate him into the lineup recently. Nacho at least believes that Solari still backs Isco, despite all the dramatic rumors that have come out about the relationship between player and manager.

There is work to be done for Isco if he wants to be a consistent starter, as Nacho pointed out. Obviously, a player of Isco’s caliber is not someone that should rarely be seeing the pitch, but he has to make Solari pick him consistently.

Isco ‘superfan’ Van der Vaart sings praises of Isco

Former Real Madrid midfielder Rafael Van der Vaart has outed himself as an Isco supporter. He was interviewed by MARCA regarding the player’s situation at the club.

“It’s crazy for me, he is the best player in the world.”

“But, he always has problems with coaches and even Zidane never trusted him 100 percent.”

“When I go to watch Madrid I’ll see if he starts and if not, I’m going home.”

From the tone of the interview, Van der Vaart is being completely serious here. There’s clearly a level of respect that Rafa has for Isco.

Whether or not Rafa is using hyperbole here, the point he makes still stands quite a bit. Isco has had trouble becoming a consistent starter at Real Madrid. However, there hasn’t necessarily been just a problem with the managers, but also his own inconsistencies.

Isco still needs to make that next jump if he wants to be truly considered among the world’s best. And not just that, at this point he needs to make that jump in order to find himself in the starting XI more often than not.