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Casillas: "Courtois is The Number One, Although I Understand Lunin"
Iker Casillas, former goalkeeper of Real Madrid, expressed his opinion on who should defend the goal in the Champions League final. He stated that Thibaut Courtois is the "number one," but he also understood Andriy Lunin, who has had a magnificent season and contributed to the team in the final.
"It's my personal opinion because I'm not a coach. Courtois is the number one. He was last year and he's recovering this year. I believe he's coming back very well. I understand Lunin, who is also playing and has had a magnificent season and has also contributed to Real Madrid reaching the final, but the decision is up to the coach," said Casillas, at the end of the solidarity paddle tennis tournament of the Clínica Menorca Foundation.
"I'm glad Courtois has returned to a magnificent level, and I'm glad Lunin has shown that he can also be trusted. Ancelotti has the responsibility, so he must decide what is best for the team. Lunin has played and has shown that he has quality and can compete with an experienced goalkeeper like Kepa," he pointed out.
"Ancelotti has decided to play Lunin more and he has played important matches, but it's also true that he has played matches in which he hasn't performed well, although that's part of the day-to-day to continue growing. Lunin is a very young lad and it's very difficult to compete with the number one," he noted.
Casillas talked about the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, and although he recognized the favoritism of the white team, he warned about the dangers of the German team.
"In the end, everyone points to Real Madrid as the favorite, and obviously it is, but finals are very complicated. I don't want to say the usual cliché, but every match is different. A final can change a strategy, a play, or a decision by the referee. At first, Real Madrid is the favorite, but Dortmund as well, and if they're in the final, it's because they've earned it," he commented.
Finally, Casillas acknowledged the value of the German Toni Kroos, who arrived at Real Madrid in July 2014 and has decided to end his professional football career at the club ten years later.
"He has decided to put an end to it, and I wish him all the best. He came very quietly and has earned a privileged place because he has been a very important player for the club," he concluded.