Casillas: Atletico can fight for title
Real Madrid custodian Iker Casillas revealed that he has been impressed with city rivals Atletico Madrid and feels they can be considered as title contenders this season.
By ESPNSTAR.com staff
Atleti are currently unbeaten in the La Liga and are level on points with first-placed Barcelona. They recently registered a 2-1 win over Malaga and have impressed observers with their attacking brand of football as well as the rich goalscoring form of Radamel Falcao.
Real, on the other hand, have already lost twice in the league and battled to a 2-2 draw against Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Sunday. Casillas was twice beaten by Argentinean star Lionel Messi in the match but Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace to help ensure a point for the visitors.
Casillas admitted that Real, who trail the two sides by eight points, are too far behind but he holds out hope that they can catch up over the coming months.
"For the Liga we must recognise the numbers and if now Barca, Atletico Madrid and Malaga are ahead it is because they have done better. But there remains many days ahead," he told Spanish radio station Cadena Cope.
"We cannot lose more points. We should not rule out Atletico Madrid.
"It's not surprising that Atletico is up there. Since Diego Simeone arrived he has given them a good mentality and I think they can be up there fighting for the title.
"If we're eight points down in December maybe I'll feel less positive. We've drawn against the opponent that is going to be battling with us."
Casillas also revealed that he was unhappy with his performance in the Clasico. Messi's first goal was the result of a defensive mix-up but his second came from a worldclass curling free-kick that a diving Casillas could not prevent from reaching the top left corner of his goal.
"I'm self-critical. I don't like conceding goals. It really stresses me out when I concede one.
"I also know that it comes with the game and you have to accept it.
"But it's true that I'm maybe too hard on myself.
"I always think I could have done more even when it's a goal in the top corner."
Real next take on Celta Vigo on October 20 after the international break. Casillas is currently with the Spain national squad as they prepare for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Belarus and France.