Casilals: The Real deal

from: Eurosport.com (June 06, 2004)

Playing goalkeeper for Real Madrid is something of a mixed blessing. Whilst success at the club is obligatory, president Florentino Perez refuses to spend his cash on defensive players. The result? A creaky defence and a healthy workout for the man between the sticks. Lucky then, for the Madrid giants, that homegrown talent Iker Casillas has emerged as one of Spanish football's brightest stars.

At the age of 23 Casillas already holds two Champions League medals, two Spanish League titles and one Intercontinental Cup. What is most impressive about this young man, however, is the professionalism and drive he displays for someone so young. Especially impressive considering his team is largely composed of overpaid (and currently underachieving) stars.

"I've been in the first team for four and a half years but I'm still improving. I want to work hard to continue improving," says the Spanish star. "When I'm 25 years-old I should not have any more excuses if I do mistakes. What I should be is the best... that's my wish".

A SAFE PAIR OF HANDS
 
With such ambition, Casillas is surely at the right place. After all, Real Madrid have an unparalleled record of success. But perhaps the best judge of character is in the face of adversity, particularly when the spotlight is as intense as that of the Santiago Bernabeu.

Typically, he sums up the constant pressure as a positive ingredient in his development, "I think that living one season at Valladolid, Malaga or Celta, with all respect for these clubs, is not the same as living one season at Real Madrid. Here it's an obligation to win... when you leave training, there are 40-50 journalists... many things that make you to be at top in every moment".

In the face of such attantion, there is no room for excuses, no place to hide, and Casillas is a firm believer that hard work will be rewarded, "I'm not a lucky-man, I always said that the good persons will have their prize... sooner or later. Of course I lived bad moments, but I never complained and I kept my ambition, even if I was still too young. With the time I earned my reward".

Whether the reward will come for Spain in Euro 2004 remains to be seen, but the experience gained by Casillas at such a young age is sure to stand him in good stead, "We left Korea disappointed but knowing that we deserved that defeat. But I think everything will change now. I think Spain is going to be at the top for several years, as happened with France in 98 and 2000. I see Spain winning a Championship... now in Portugal could be the moment".