European and world champion is pleased with the Spanish giants’ performance in the recently concluded campaign and believes that summer signings will add strength
Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas believes that the 2010-11 season was “positive” for the club despite losing out on the La Liga title and Champions League.
Real finished second behind champions Barcelona, but reached the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2003.
Under Jose Mourinho, who was appointed the coach last summer, the nine-time European champions also won the Copa del Rey, defeating Barca 1-0 in the final in extra-time.
Casillas, who won the World Cup with Spain in South Africa before the start of the 2010-11 season, is happy with their performance and told Madrid’s official website: “I believe the season was positive both on a personal and collective level.
“We had chances to win the three titles at the end of the campaign. We lost that chance in La Liga two weeks before it ended, but I believe we had a rather good run.
“It [my most special moment of the season] was obviously winning the Copa del Rey, a title all Madridismo was anxious to win, and it happened in a beautiful final. For me that was the greatest moment of the season.”
Looking ahead to next season, the 30-year-old added: “Our objective is to improve on what we did this season. If we do this, it should be a very good campaign. Improving our place in the league would mean we’d top the table, and improving on our run in the Champions League would place us in the final.
“Improving on what we did in the Copa del Rey would imply us winning the title again. Anything we do to improve on last season will be excellent for us.
“During this first year, new players and a new coaching staff had to adapt to the team. Success is guaranteed if we improve on what we did last season. We will try to better ourselves every year. We want people to demand more from us when needed. We will try to go one step further next season.”
Madrid have already started preparing for the 2011-12 campaign, having signed Nuri Sahin from Borussia Dortmund and Hamit Altintop on a free transfer.
When asked to give his opinion on the duo, Casillas said: “He [Sahin] is a very young kid, like the entire squad. The Real Madrid squad is being rejuvenated, which is very positive for its future. I haven’t seen him play much, but he looks to be a great player who will adapt well to the team.
“He [Altintop] is more experienced because he’s played for more teams. He can play in any position and will help the team considerably.”
Forward Jose Maria Callejon too has returned to Madrid from Espanyol. He played for the Spanish giants’ B side but failing to break into the first team, joined the Barcelona-based club in 2008.
Casillas is happy with the arrival of the 24-year-old Spaniard and explained: “He left Real Madrid to evolve as a player, which isn’t easy.
“Real Madrid always want to recover players when they see they do well on their new sides. He is a young player who comes from the academy and also happens to be Spanish. It makes us happy to have someone from the academy on the first team.”
Real finished second behind champions Barcelona, but reached the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2003.
Under Jose Mourinho, who was appointed the coach last summer, the nine-time European champions also won the Copa del Rey, defeating Barca 1-0 in the final in extra-time.
Casillas, who won the World Cup with Spain in South Africa before the start of the 2010-11 season, is happy with their performance and told Madrid’s official website: “I believe the season was positive both on a personal and collective level.
“We had chances to win the three titles at the end of the campaign. We lost that chance in La Liga two weeks before it ended, but I believe we had a rather good run.
“It [my most special moment of the season] was obviously winning the Copa del Rey, a title all Madridismo was anxious to win, and it happened in a beautiful final. For me that was the greatest moment of the season.”
Looking ahead to next season, the 30-year-old added: “Our objective is to improve on what we did this season. If we do this, it should be a very good campaign. Improving our place in the league would mean we’d top the table, and improving on our run in the Champions League would place us in the final.
“Improving on what we did in the Copa del Rey would imply us winning the title again. Anything we do to improve on last season will be excellent for us.
“During this first year, new players and a new coaching staff had to adapt to the team. Success is guaranteed if we improve on what we did last season. We will try to better ourselves every year. We want people to demand more from us when needed. We will try to go one step further next season.”
Madrid have already started preparing for the 2011-12 campaign, having signed Nuri Sahin from Borussia Dortmund and Hamit Altintop on a free transfer.
When asked to give his opinion on the duo, Casillas said: “He [Sahin] is a very young kid, like the entire squad. The Real Madrid squad is being rejuvenated, which is very positive for its future. I haven’t seen him play much, but he looks to be a great player who will adapt well to the team.
“He [Altintop] is more experienced because he’s played for more teams. He can play in any position and will help the team considerably.”
Forward Jose Maria Callejon too has returned to Madrid from Espanyol. He played for the Spanish giants’ B side but failing to break into the first team, joined the Barcelona-based club in 2008.
Casillas is happy with the arrival of the 24-year-old Spaniard and explained: “He left Real Madrid to evolve as a player, which isn’t easy.
“Real Madrid always want to recover players when they see they do well on their new sides. He is a young player who comes from the academy and also happens to be Spanish. It makes us happy to have someone from the academy on the first team.”
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