Real Madrid's Iker Casillas says Carlo Ancelotti is better than Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho

Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has not hesitated to say boss Carlo Ancelotti is better than Jose Mourinho, illustrating the tense relationship he endured under the current Chelsea boss's tenure in La Liga.

The Portuguese manager won a Copa del Rey and a La Liga title during three seasons at the helm of Santiago Bernabeu despite playing against arguably the best Barcelona team of all time.

However, he failed to win the Champions League and ended on a sour note with a number of Real Madrid players, including Casillas himself and Ballon D'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.

Meanwhile, Ancelotti managed to win both the European trophy and the Copa del Rey title in his debut season in La Liga.

When asked during an interview with Cadena Cope who is the best manager between the two of them, Casillas said: "Ancelotti is better than Mourinho."

Mourinho relegated Casillas to the bench despite the Spaniard being one of the club's biggest legends.

Nevertheless, Casillas refused to criticize his former boss: "With Mourinho I had a love-hate relationship. In his time here I did not speak of him when he was in my locker room, nor do I think that I have to talk now when he is already managing another team and I'm with my team. It would be a bit self-seeking and little cowardly on my part.

"[I hope] things go very well for him. In the time that he was at Real Madrid, he won titles and you have to give him thanks. If I cross paths with him tomorrow I am going to extend my hand, then it will be up to him if he shakes it. I think he would shake".

But the Spanish international admitted he was so frustrated under the Portuguese boss that he even thought about leaving his childhood team – with Arsenal then said to be monitoring the situation.

"Of course I thought about leaving, but I want to finish my career at Real Madrid".