Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Bodo Illgner has said that he saw no reason to drop Iker Casillas for the 3-2 defeat by Malaga.

The Spanish number one was dropped by Jose Mourinho for the final game before Spain's winter break, and Madrid subsequently fell 16 points behind league leaders Barcelona.

Illgner says that he was shocked at the decision and that he thought Casillas had been playing well.

"I was very surprised when he didn't start," Illgner told Marca. "It marked the end of an era because nobody, including myself, expected it after seeing him in goal for ten years.

"Initially, it's a very hard pill to swallow. I'm sure he found it hard, but as the days pass he'll have taken some positives from it. He'll come back stronger.

"I've seen almost every Madrid game and I think that he's played fine."

Illgner also suggested that it may have been a personal problem and thinks that Madrid will struggle to win the Champions League unless they regain their team spirit.