Former Real Madrid ace Cesar Sanchez believes the Porto No.1 has been
better than the likes of Peter Schmeichel & Gianluigi Buffon over
the years, arguing that the stats don't lieIker Casillas
will become a Champions League record-breaker on Tuesday. The Porto
goalkeeper will reach 152 appearances in Europe's premier club
competition, overtaking Barcelona legend and long-time international team-mate Xavi at the summit of the standings.
But what makes Casillas so special? How will he react when he comes face-to-face with Jose Mourinho once again? And is he really the greatest goalkeeper to ever grace the Champions League?
Goal caught up with former Madrid No.1 Cesar Sanchez to get his thoughts on all things Saint Iker...
IS CASILLAS THE BEST EVER?
"From this list [Goal's poll asking whether Casillas is the great Champions League goalkeeper of all-time], I think none of them have neither three Champions League wins nor Casillas's caps. There's no doubt: no one has as many Champions League titles or played as many games. It's not even a debatable issue.
"Reaching 152 Champions League games is another of the many impressive accomplishments he has achieved. I met him at Real Madrid, and sensed that he would claim all these honours and privileges. And I think the expectations have been confirmed, and even exceeded, both at Real Madrid and with the Spain national team, given all his successes."
WHAT MAKES CASILLAS SO SPECIAL?
"He's always been a privileged boy. He always had something innate. And he is able to perform at important moments. He's also very intuitive; he has great reflexes. He deserves to have got where he has. It is overwhelming. At certain times he has been blamed for some things, but we've all had our shortcomings.
"But he has shown that his understanding of football has helped him reach the elite, and he's remained there for a long time. Iker also has something that's hard to find: his work is translated into results. He is a goalkeeper who is a leader and will remain so for future generations. His achievements will be matched by very few, if there even is someone that even reaches that level."
CAN CASILLAS GO ON AND ON?
"Definitely! I ended my contract with Real Madrid at 32 and never thought it was going to be as long as that. At 16, one person, Ramon Martinez, told me that I would play for Real Madrid when he signed me for Valladolid. For me, it was unthinkable then. I did not imagine it. If your body is with you, there's no problem for a goalkeeper to play until 40.
"It's a matter of getting adjusted to what the game requires at all times, rather than physically. And, besides, with age it is no longer about money or contracts, but to be in a place where you're comfortable and where you are mentally perfect to get up every day to train and be excited to play. When you reach the end of your career you start to value things that before you haven't looked at."
THE RECORD WILL COME AGAINST MOURINHO!...
"That record fulfilled in front of Mourinho is quite the coincidence. One of these days he will face Real Madrid and will fulfil another record! In the end, we all have coaches who have a special taste, an appreciation and a way of understanding football that is different from us. And what we can do is try to reverse it. Everyone at some point told us they did not like the way we acted. These are difficult situations, but they sure are necessary to grow. And there is only one way of doing that: to overcome them."
MADRID EXIT HANDLED POORLY?
"When we talk about any exit, you can always do better. There have certainly been mistakes made by all. It may be only a matter of miscommunication, perhaps. I'm sure everyone would have liked to have done otherwise. Iker's exit could have be handled better by all parties. It's all very complicated, and certainly there is not just one guilty party."
But what makes Casillas so special? How will he react when he comes face-to-face with Jose Mourinho once again? And is he really the greatest goalkeeper to ever grace the Champions League?
Goal caught up with former Madrid No.1 Cesar Sanchez to get his thoughts on all things Saint Iker...
"From this list [Goal's poll asking whether Casillas is the great Champions League goalkeeper of all-time], I think none of them have neither three Champions League wins nor Casillas's caps. There's no doubt: no one has as many Champions League titles or played as many games. It's not even a debatable issue.
"Reaching 152 Champions League games is another of the many impressive accomplishments he has achieved. I met him at Real Madrid, and sensed that he would claim all these honours and privileges. And I think the expectations have been confirmed, and even exceeded, both at Real Madrid and with the Spain national team, given all his successes."
"He's always been a privileged boy. He always had something innate. And he is able to perform at important moments. He's also very intuitive; he has great reflexes. He deserves to have got where he has. It is overwhelming. At certain times he has been blamed for some things, but we've all had our shortcomings.
"But he has shown that his understanding of football has helped him reach the elite, and he's remained there for a long time. Iker also has something that's hard to find: his work is translated into results. He is a goalkeeper who is a leader and will remain so for future generations. His achievements will be matched by very few, if there even is someone that even reaches that level."
"Definitely! I ended my contract with Real Madrid at 32 and never thought it was going to be as long as that. At 16, one person, Ramon Martinez, told me that I would play for Real Madrid when he signed me for Valladolid. For me, it was unthinkable then. I did not imagine it. If your body is with you, there's no problem for a goalkeeper to play until 40.
"It's a matter of getting adjusted to what the game requires at all times, rather than physically. And, besides, with age it is no longer about money or contracts, but to be in a place where you're comfortable and where you are mentally perfect to get up every day to train and be excited to play. When you reach the end of your career you start to value things that before you haven't looked at."
"That record fulfilled in front of Mourinho is quite the coincidence. One of these days he will face Real Madrid and will fulfil another record! In the end, we all have coaches who have a special taste, an appreciation and a way of understanding football that is different from us. And what we can do is try to reverse it. Everyone at some point told us they did not like the way we acted. These are difficult situations, but they sure are necessary to grow. And there is only one way of doing that: to overcome them."
"When we talk about any exit, you can always do better. There have certainly been mistakes made by all. It may be only a matter of miscommunication, perhaps. I'm sure everyone would have liked to have done otherwise. Iker's exit could have be handled better by all parties. It's all very complicated, and certainly there is not just one guilty party."
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