Casillas: "I'm not the best in the world"

[Robinho4Ever]

Real Madrid's Casillas dismisses 'world best' tag:

Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas insists he's not interested in being regarded as 'the best in the world'.

"That's not my aim," said Casillas, who is being hailed by the Spanish media this week after Sunday's superb performance against Real Zaragoza.

"It's all subjective and I'll give you an example: I said to Andre Palop (Sevilla) last season that it was ridiculous he wasn't in any of the 'best XI's' after the year he had. He deserved it, but didn't receive any recognition.

"That's why I find it a little ridiculous all this talk about 'best in the world' and 'best XI's'."

He added: "My dream has always been to stay with Real Madrid. Man, I read all the rumours about me going here and there. There's always rumours involving Real Madrid, but luckily that's all they are. I have three years on my contract and I am happy."

Wow. He's such a great person and player. So unpretentious ....
For me he's #1 and will always be so ...

[Trim]

Originally Posted by Robinho4Ever

For me he's #1 and will always be so ...

#1? Oh yeah, because he plays for Real Madrid.

Nobody is denying he's a very good goalkeeper, but #1?

[Robinho4Ever]

Yes #1 ... I don't watch Cech, and not Buffon. But every week I see a superb GK who doesn't allow any ball to enter his goal ...
He doesn't make any stupid things like Cech.
I don't know about Buffon, but I don't think that there could be a keeper who stops balls more than Casillas...
Did you watch the match against Zaragoza ?? or the stop against Olympiacos ??

San Iker is just unbeatable... #1 for me ... Magnificent sportsman, and a great person who doesn't aim to be the best so he can tell the press about himself ....

[Blaugrana]

He doesn't say that he's not #1 in the world, all he says is that it's not his aim

[NJ10]

He's a superb keeper. I think he's up there with the best at the moment.

[Blaugrana]

There's quite some distance between Casillas + Buffon and the rest imo (such as Cech, VDS, Gomes, Frey, etc..). Without Casillas, i seriously think Real would have been around the 8th spot in the league

I personally rate Casillas as the best, especially on recent form, but we've had that discussion before

[NJ10]

Originally Posted by Blaugrana

There's quite some distance between Casillas + Buffon and the rest imo (such as Cech, VDS, Gomes, Frey, etc..)

Don't forget Pepe....

[Pennywise]

Originally Posted by Blaugrana

There's quite some distance between Casillas + Buffon and the rest imo (such as Cech, VDS, Gomes, Frey, etc..). Without Casillas, i seriously think Real would have been around the 8th spot in the league

I personally rate Casillas as the best, especially on recent form, but we've had that discussion before

Around 8th? That was a very controversial statement. I know that he is one of the best keepers in the world and helped Madrid several times, but Real Madrid had not been around the middle of the table without Casillas. Maybe with Ramon Calderon in the net.

Casillas is good. He is developed in Madrid and is a real Madridista, but Madrid had not been a 'backstreet club' around the middle of table if they had played another keeper through a season. Los Merengues is the team in La Liga who have scored most goals and been the best team so far - both on good and bad days.

[Blaugrana]

It's a harsh statement for the rest of the team, no doubt. But honestly, with a random GK you would have lost yesterday, i don't think it's unfair to say that. And this has been the case several times before, Casillas' form is simply unbelievable, i don't know how many great saves he has made this season. Apart from yesterday, would it be unfair to say he was decisive in 5 other matches? Out of 17? Not at all, you could even argue that this was the case for even more matches.

The difference with the 8th place is 18 points; with other words: 6 matches. I don't think that's far off.

[azzurri]

It's not his aim because unless Buffon retires, he will always be in his shadow.

[Pennywise]

Originally Posted by Blaugrana

It's a harsh statement for the rest of the team, no doubt. But honestly, with a random GK you would have lost yesterday, i don't think it's unfair to say that. And this has been the case several times before, Casillas' form is simply unbelievable, i don't know how many great saves he has made this season. Apart from yesterday, would it be unfair to say he was decisive in 5 other matches? Out of 17? Not at all, you could even argue that this was the case for even more matches.

The difference with the 8th place is 18 points; with other words: 6 matches. I don't think that's far off.

I know what you want to say, but this is like "What IF" and that's actually irrelevant. What if Barcelona not had bought Ronaldinho in 2003? Had they won La Liga and the CL? What about Barca without Messi this season, or the last one?

I don't think Real Madrid had got an random GK in the goal if not Casillas had 'excisted' and its just speculation on how things had been without him and him. However, that Madrid had been a team middle of the table in La Liga without Casillas....is still yet very controversial to say.

[Podolski]

Originally Posted by Blaugrana

It's a harsh statement for the rest of the team, no doubt. But honestly, with a random GK you would have lost yesterday, i don't think it's unfair to say that. And this has been the case several times before, Casillas' form is simply unbelievable, i don't know how many great saves he has made this season. Apart from yesterday, would it be unfair to say he was decisive in 5 other matches? Out of 17? Not at all, you could even argue that this was the case for even more matches.

The difference with the 8th place is 18 points; with other words: 6 matches. I don't think that's far off.

We are a top team, richest if not one of the richest in the world, top clubs don't play with 'random keepers', they play with the best. He makes great saves and without him we would suffer as he is one of the key members of our team, but suppose Iker was never born, we would still have top-class keeper inbetween the posts. And you have no way of telling if he would make the saves Iker does.

[Pennywise]

Originally Posted by azzurri

It's not his aim because unless Buffon retires, he will always be in his shadow.

Maybe with Italian glasses.

Casillas is 26 years old and has been GK for Real Madrid since the 98/99 season. He has also almost the same number of matches for Spain, as Buffon has for Italy. Winning the Champions League, La Liga, different cups and awards the last seasons has not given him a setback, since he is better than ever.

Casillas may have not been so stable as Buffon, but he has all the potential to live on the same cloud as Mr.Buffon. Noone inside football have the title 'the one and only'. But when it comes to the stability in the beginning of his career, Casillas has not got the good Italian defence wall as Buffon have got with Juve and Italy, but that have just made him stronger. He won his first CL final 19 years old.

However, Buffon is majestic, not only as GK, but as a person. He has been one of the best keepers in the world for so many years, and I think he will stay in Turin for many years too. Can't see him in another club. (only for Madrid then, as himself has told that the only club he may will consider a move to, is Real Madrid), according to him some years ago) He may have not won so much titles, but the WC will makes him immortal anyway.


And I think that all the clubs in the world had changed out their GK for Buffon or Casillas, outside Madrid and Juve of course.

[Pennywise]

Btw, found this on Real Madrid.com:

Last Sunday against Zaragoza Iker Casillas again proved why many consider him the best goalkeeper in the world. Two days after his brilliant performance, the sports pages in Spain have focused exclusively on praise towards Casillas from former goalkeepers, footballer, and coaches.


BUYO:
"He and Buffon are the best in the world. Goalkeepers never get the recognition they deserve, but he should win the Balon d'Or if they did. He's still got a few small kinks to iron out, but he'll make the adjustments because he's young and intelligent. He's a ball magnet. He'll break every single record."
OCHOTORENA:
"It's hard to say who is the best keeper in the world because they fluctuate throughout the season, but Casillas has matured a ton and has been almost perfect this season. He'll make a great save when everyone else thinks it's going to be a goal."

VÍCTOR MUÑOZ, Recreativo boss:
"He makes more saves than any other keeper. His performance has been spectacular. He excels at closing angles between the posts. He has also improved his aerial game and attacking centre passes. Teams reach Barça's box five times and Madrid's box fifteen times, but Barça concedes more goals. It's neither Van Nistelrooy, Robinho, nor Raúl. This year Casillas is the difference-maker. I do, however, believe luck plays a small role between the posts."



VICENTE:
"He makes impossible saves. He would be the perfect goalkeeper if he came out a little more. He would win a Balon d'Or if he was Italian. He deserves all the recognition. It's hard to compare keepers of different eras, but he's among the best in Madrid's history."

ANDONI CEDRÚN, former Athletico and Zaragoza keeper:
"He's got a great head on his shoulders. Even when he debuted at 17 he knew where he was and what his responsibilities were. He's got the gift of appearing when it counts most. All that are missing are the international awards."

AGUSTÍN:
"He's the keeper that influences the final result more than any other. He's won Leagues and Champions Leagues and been the star in both. Now he just needs to succeed with the national team in order to win the Balon d'Or. Madrid has gotten used to startling football, and Casillas is the perfect man for the job."

LUIS GARCÍA, Espanyol player:
"He's exceptional. You have to adjust your shot a lot more in order to beat him. He's got abnormal agility and always remains upright in one-on-ones. His aerial game has improved a lot, meaning that he has very few defects left."

GORKA IRAIZOZ, Athletic keeper:
"He's got reflexes, agility, and reaction speed. His best asset is his leg speed."



MIGUEL ÁNGEL:
"His character, his to-do, and his security... I don't think he has much room for improvement because what takes years to iron out he already does to perfection. He's going through a great patch. There's no doubt he's number one. Winning the Balon d'Or is only fair."

MANUEL AMIEIRO, goalkeeper trainer:
"He was playing in the youth system the first time I saw him. He did everything differently than the rest and looked a lot more veteran because of his attitude. Vicente del Bosque was shocked when I asked if we could move him up. "How are we going to work with such a young kid?" he asked. I explained that he was ahead of all the kids his age and that it was the best way for him to continue his progress."

ANDONI ZUBIZARRETA:
"Forwards used to always get the credit for the good stuff, while goalkeepers were always blamed for mistakes. Iker is doing a great service to the role of the goalkeeper. He's got technique, fast legs, great hands, and is good in one-on-ones."

VICENTE DEL BOSQUE:
"He was never a nuissance and he's not pedantic, which is why he has made it. He always wanted to participate and he liked to play further up, so sometimes he made himself a forward. He's worked his way up and has improved daily. He's had a magnificent career."


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ERNESTO VALVERDE, Espanyol boss:
"I'm not very familiar with Buffon, so I believe Casillas is the best in the world. He can improve in certain aspects, such as controlling the ball with his feet, but little more. His agility and cold blood when it comes to saving his team from unexpected situations best define him."

MIGUEL TORRES:
"He never gets upset. He's a role model for kids and a guarantee in goal. We know we can score easily, but Iker can also get us out of any jam."

JUNQUERA:
"He's an exceptional keeper who has great reflexes and is extremely calm. If not the best in the world, he's among the top three. He deserves the Balon d'Or, but it's never given to goalkeepers. I find it impossible that he burns out soon."

GARCÍA REMÓN:
"I predict we'll see Casillas for a long time to come. If not the best Madrid keeper ever, he's very close because he's got a lot more work than his predecessors. He's the most decisive keeper in the world and should win the Balon d'Or."

ZAPATER, Zaragoza midfielder:
"Being a decisive player for Madrid, where everyone stands out for something, is amazing. It's not just his saves, but his presence and the security he gives his team. He's got something different... And great reflexes."



ARAQUISTAIN:
"I don't think he can improve much more. He's never been injured, so I see no reason why he can't be Madrid's keeper for many more years to come. The perfect keeper doesn't exist. He's got to improve in charging balls from the wings. The more shots he sees, the better he gets."

MIGUEL ÁNGEL LOTINA, Deportivo boss:
"He's got it all: reaction speed, coordination, placement. Perhaps he needs a little work on his aerial game."

Iker Casillas has remained humble. He doesn't care for all the praise or the nickname 'Saint Iker', and would rather do his job of "stopping balls and little more. Maintaining a clean sheet is extremely satisfying." His secret? "To continue being my same old self. My secret is to escape from all the praise. Being recognized is great, but no one can change me from being me. It doesn't affect me." Despite being considered the best, Casillas would rather focus on correcting his mistakes and improving as a goalkeeper. There's a reason he's number one.

[Blaugrana]

Originally Posted by Pennywise

I know what you want to say, but this is like "What IF" and that's actually irrelevant. What if Barcelona not had bought Ronaldinho in 2003? Had they won La Liga and the CL? What about Barca without Messi this season, or the last one?

I don't think Real Madrid had got an random GK in the goal if not Casillas had 'excisted' and its just