Gianluigi Buffon understands Iker Casillas' plight

Gianluigi Buffon and Iker Casillas embrace each other after Spain’s penalty shootout win over Italy in the semi-finals of the 2013 Confederations Cup

It is rightly believed that only a footballer in the same shoes can comprehend the situation that his peer is in.

Real Madrid will play Juventus midweek in the UEFA Champions League and ahead of the game, Juve’s legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has offered his sympathies to his counterpart, Iker Casillas, who himself has been a mainstay of the Madrid team for well over a decade now.

Buffon in an interview has said that he too would find it tough if he were in the same situation that Casillas was in at Real Madrid.

“I really admire Iker as for who I am, during the moment that I still feel a strong goalkeeper and among the best, it would be hard to accept certain situations. However, he has this merit and I respect that more,” the 35-year-old Italian told AS.

“Why is he out of the team? I do not know what happened last year or this year [regarding Casillas]. I have just seen the line-ups.”

“But I think that last year it was not just a technical issue, but relating to other things. I think it was a relationship problem.”

“Is it now just a sporting decision then? I do not know. I can say that it is very unusual to see a goalkeeper like Casillas on the bench.”

“But in the midst of this discourse we must also have respect for Diego Lopez, who in the end, apart from what he is doing this year, has always been an excellent goalkeeper. But I respect very much the reaction to Iker and he is still much greater for me.”

“Iker has always proven to be a great champion and I think that great champions come out of these negative situations, by nature. That anger to return to playing, over time, it can be lost because you can appreciate things less. When these unexpected things happen, you get more power for when you do return.”

He also went on to talk about how the Spanish teams had raised the benchmark of play in Europe over the last few years, especially Barcelona.

“Yes, in the last seven or eight years, Barcelona has surpassed all European clubs in terms of popularity and prestige because, ultimately, the real difference and value in a club is shown in winning and Barcelona in recent years have won much.”

“It is the same as with the legend of Madrid, from the 1950s when they won many European Cups. Spending and having lots of money does not mean that by force you can win.”

“Therefore, projects are needed, patience, work, balance. Of course, having so much money is a good base in which to start, but that alone is not enough.”

“Spanish football’s rise? It is due to a tactical and technical way of dealing with games completely differently, which has probably surprised everyone. In these years that have followed, few have managed to find the tactical changes or corrections to face Spain and hinder their game.”

“One of the few teams that has done so has been Italy, who in facing Spain has seen them encounter a style of play difficult for their football.”

“Just watch all the matches between Spain and Italy from 2008 to the European Championship Final, by which time we were physically exhausted.”

“Are Spain the model to follow? What is certain is that they have changed the mindset of many Coaches, even the Italians because, in recent years, Coaches have improved tactically, with the method and identity for their team to play in. Much of the credit is down to Spain and Barcelona.”

Casillas is expected to start against the Bianconeri and fans could be in for a real treat with two of the best keepers on the pitch at once.