Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that he will fight to keep Iker Casillas at Real Madrid, should the goalkeeper ask to leave.
The shot-stopper has endured a tough campaign under the Italian tactician, only playing in cup competitions.
But the Coach has insisted that he wants to keep the Spain international for as long as possible.
“I don’t know whether it was a risky thing to do. It wasn’t an easy decision to take,” he told Radio Nacional de Espana with regards to Casillas and Diego Lopez.
“I have two goalkeepers who both have an enormous amount of quality. Real Madrid have the best pair of goalkeepers in the world. Diego López started in the League but you can’t have a goalkeeper like Casillas not getting a game.
“Iker has enough experience and quality to play in any team in the world. Maybe it wasn’t the most adroit decision but rotating goalkeepers isn’t that easy. Both of them have taken our decision well.
“Yes, of course [I want to keep Iker]. I will do exactly the same. Madrid have some very important players who represent this club. We will fight hammer and tooth to ensure that Casillas ends his career with Real Madrid.”
Ancelotti then remarked on Xabi Alonso’s recent contract extension and adapting to life at Santiago Bernabeu.
“Yes. He is an important ‘signing’ for us. Xabi is a very important player for his quality, experience and for his style of play. It’s impossible to find someone else with his qualities.
“Maybe you could compare him a little with [Andrea] Pirlo but he’s 35. Xabi’s younger and the whole of madridísmo loves him. He’s a great signing.
“Our [play] isn’t excellent because we have changed the philosophy a little with respect to the system used last season – one in which the team played more on the counter attack.
“We have tried to restore a more possession-based style with the ball played along the ground. Barça have had the same philosophy for many years. Atlético’s is different but they too have spent a while playing with the same system.”
