The problem doesn't really stem from Iker and Ramos's ego though. Other players at other clubs will have egos just as big. The problem lies far deeper within the club to the point where Jose is supposed to bow down to them. There is simply no other club in the world where no manager, whoever it is, could not be in complete control of the players. Fergie would have been in the exact same situation. He'd have told Casillas to feck off as well if he started leaking things behind his bacl.
Yes and no. The club needed a shake-up. The coach needed more freedom. Senior players, including Casillas, needed a wakeup call.
The trouble with Mourinho this season was that he won those battles - even the one with Casillas (if only as a result of Iker's girlfriend opening her mouth on camera - a magical "told you so" moment for Madrid soap opera lovers). The majority of fans were back on his side - having had a love hate relationship with him all season.
But as soon as the team lost, he went into his mock humility - "of course I'm to blame, even if...." and then actually declaring who he was going to blame this time, that is, one or more players, the refs, the fans, the press. It didn't build a "Fortress Madrid" mentality just one of perpetual angry hysteria and negativity between him and his players.
For months he's also been sending out that stuff about going where he would be loved and talking as if he was counting the seconds to getting away, despite another three years on his contract.
Since the Dortmund away defeat as far as I can tell it's all been about damage limitation on his reputation. If I was a Madrid fan I'd even think he was trying to get Madrid to sack him so there's no compensation going their way, and preferably some coming his.
Now, oddly enough, I say this as someone who wouldn't have minded him coming to us. Because I'm so sure we would have been a good influence on him
If I was a Madrid fan though, I'd be as angry as hell.