Casillas: "Maybe I haven't got a year left playing for Spain"
"Maybe I have to think about what is best for me. I don’t know if that will be this year or next," said the Spain and Porto keeper on his international shelf life.
Spain and Porto goalkeeper Iker Casillas gave an interview with Spanish radio show El Larguero in which he talked about his situation with the national team, life in the Primeira Liga and Real Madrid.
Spain: “When I join up with the national team I disconnect, it’s different now. I’m with another club and it’s obvious my mindset has changed after 25 years at the same club and 16 in the first team. To be honest it is all a bit strange but luckily I’ve managed to get used to my situation bit by bit.”
Links with Madrid: “I understand that people associate me with Madrid and that’s great as far as I’m concerned. I still have that connection with people there, with Sergio, with Nacho, Isco and Morata. We have a common link, the same roots.”
Porto: “I’m enjoying it, I’d like things to have gone better, we’re fighting for second place but we’re dependent on other results. We have to stay in the fight. We’re in the final of the cup, if we can win that it would be a big result.”
Under the spotlight in every game: “Yes, constantly, but I understand that, that’s the law of the jungle. Every game is an examination, every game at your club is the same and it’s no different playing for your country.”
From ‘what a save’ to ‘what a blunder’: When you’re 20 years old you see things in a different way and when you mature and you’ve achieved things your self-esteem and confidence grows. And then you reach 35 and I’m not resting on my laurels but if I can allow myself the luxury of looking back I think I’ve got something to be proud of and I can say here’s my calling card. Because of that I think I’ve earned the right to enjoy football and I think I’m prepared.”
Are you enjoying yourself? “I’ve been on the front page of the newspapers for many years and when new people come through people are attracted by the novelty factor. But my path is clear: I’ll retire when I decide it’s time to leave the game, when I want to try a new challenge, a new adventure… Football won’t get rid of me but the time will come when I have to decide. Four journalists aren’t going to get rid of me either.”
De Gea: “I’m 35 and he’s 25. He’s got his career in front of him and he has longer left than I have. He has things that I haven’t got and vice versa. It’s a luxury to have keepers like De Gea. In other national teams there isn’t any competition. We have competition and we’re in good hands. We’ve got Sergio Rico, Adrián… we’re relaxed.”
Pressure: “You have to have a special kind of hard-headedness to play in goal for Madrid or Spain. People expect you to win trophies. If you don’t, every player finds themselves being analysed. It’s the same with Spain. We’ve won plenty over the last few years and not doing so is a problem. Previously, a draw against Italy would have been a good result. Now it’s a catastrophe. People get used to what we have achieved but that is not the reality. It’s very difficult to repeat what we did. I’d bet an arm, or even both, that we won’t win everything again like we did. We got knocked out of the last World Cup in the first round. Other teams are better prepared and more mature now, they have their own trajectory.”
Back-up keeper: “I’m available to go the European Championship. As what, I don’t know. Del Bosque hasn’t said anything to me. If I’m in the squad of 23, if the gaffer chooses someone else, I’ll have to take on my role. I’m going to enjoy it, that’s what it’s all about. I want to experience it but I want to play as well, I’d be joking if I said anything else.”
Clearances against Romania: “They analyse you whether you clear or not. They have me under the microscope. People don’t talk about clean sheets any more, but if I cleared with a punch or not. They don’t analyse that there wasn’t a single scoring chance. Is that to generate a debate? I cleared like that to get out of a spot. Sometimes you block and sometimes you don’t.”
Record number of caps: “You think of it in terms of still adding something. I know I haven’t got 10, or five, or three or two years left in the national team. Maybe I don’t even have one. Buffon doesn’t have as much competition for Italy, but with Spain it’s different. You have to be honest with yourself. I’ve been playing for Spain for 16 years and maybe I have to think about what is best for me. I don’t know if that will be this year or next.”
Clásico: “If I analyse it as a player, maybe the game isn’t that important to Barcelona. They’ll probably be happy enough with a draw and sewing up the league title. They might be more concerned with the Champions League quarters. If Madrid win they’ll cut the gap and they’re already accustomed to heroic feats… it’s difficult though. Madrid have to go all out and try to win. My time at the club is over. Now I just watch as a fan. I’d like them to win but I don’t look at it beyond that. Keylor is doing a great job. I hope he enjoys it and he does well.”
Zidane: “Yes, I saw him as a coach. He has merits. I hope it goes well for him.”
Benítez: “It’s a difficult club. It’s never good when a coach goes. The club makes decisions to try and find the best fit. I feel sorry for Rafa. I spoke to him when I was still there. He never insinuated I wasn’t going to play but I was already in talks with the club to leave. He took an interest in me.”
Florentino Pérez: “I haven’t spoken to him since I left. The testimonial game doesn’t depend on me. It depends what Madrid and Porto do between now and the end of the season and the dates. It’s difficult to find a date that suits everyone.”