Aitor Karanka spoke frankly during an interview to LaSexta TV’s programme 'Jugones'. The Middlesbrough manager made reference to Casillas: "We thought a lot about his situation because we knew he was not just any player. We thought he should be performing better. I don’t know if Iker understood why he was benched. The same thing happened with Hierro, Sanchís and Raúl. I think that he must have understood the situation." "We were friends. We don’t have that relationship now because I left the club, and in all honesty, during those three years, especially towards the end, our relationship wasn’t great." Karanka does not understand Casillas’ famous telephone call to Xavi: "I don’t think Real Madrid players had ever before telephoned to apologise to Barça or vice versa. There have been matches full of harsh tackling, like those of the past three years and I can’t remember anybody doubting the national team’s unity." Karanka said that "there were times in which the gaffer and the coaching staff wanted more from Cristiano Ronaldo. Not just to demand more of him, but because you knew that Ronaldo was capable of much more." Mourinho’s former assistant coach concluded by saying that: "none of the players surprised me. I fully expected what happened in the Real Madrid dressing room", said Mourinho's ex-assistant manager
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