Iker Casillas was the latest player to sit down with Grada Blanca to offer the following interview.

A couple days ago you said everyone has the right to hit a bad patch. But it appears to have passed: only two goals conceded in the last five matches.

Things happen in streaks. With so many matches you can’t always play at the same level. The good thing about playing so often is that you can always make up for the past.

Did the team recover its defensive soundness after Juande Ramos arrived?

That’s what the stats show. We’ve played five games with him as coach and only conceded two goals. The team is also a lot more involved. It’s doing much better defending set pieces and the defense knows exactly what role to play in every situation.

There’s been talk that Real Madrid played more defensively against Mallorca.

It’s so easy to criticize Real Madrid. For some it’s good, for others it’s bad. All that matters is that the team played well against a Mallorca squad trying to avoid relegation.

In what other aspects has the new coach changed things?

He made radical changes to everything, but that’s not to say he’s any better or worse than Schuster. Every coach has a different way of doing things.

All the players agree that training sessions are now longer and tougher. Did the team need more fitness work?

No, it’s because we have a month and a half of only playing one match each week, so there is more time between games. Sessions are tougher at the start of the week and they get lighter as matchday draws nearer.

Do you still believe that the season is far from over and that nothing is decided yet?

There are a lot of matches to be played. Like Raúl said the other day, if Barcelona continue winning all we can do is congratulate them. I hope they cool off a little, but we can’t let it happen to us. We have to win all our matches because we have the time to prepare for them.

After the gauntlet of matches in December it appears your rivals right now are a little easier to handle.

They are opponents you win leagues against We cannot lose points against teams like Numancia or Valladolid because its matches like these ones that teams begin to build the title.

Opponents like Osasuna, who are in last place and have nothing to lose, might be more dangerous.

Not only that, but they have lost their last two matches in the final minutes. Last week they were leading Barcelona 2-1 but lost in the last ten minutes.

Have you spoken to your old friends Portillo and Juanfran about their current situation?

We sometimes speak, but not about football.

What’s easier to win, La Liga or the Champions League?

As of today I would say the Champions League because it’s now based on ties and not points. That said, we want to win both competitions. We cannot forget about the league because five points separate the second spot from the eighth.

IFFHS named you the best goalkeeper of 2008. What more can you ask for this year?

It was a great year and I will always remember it. I won the league and Super Cup with Real Madrid and the Euro with Spain. What a better way to cap it off than being named the best goalkeeper of the year.

And you continue reaching new milestones with Real Madrid. Last week you played your 450th match.

When I played my first match in San Mamés I never thought I would play so many. I only thought about the following game. I am very happy to continue adding to the count with the team.

You’re only 27 years old and 15th in the ranking of Real Madrid players with the most matches under the belt.

Imagine that! All those legends who are ahead of me. Making history at Real Madrid.

And only four away from Buyo.

I am not counting, but I was told that I was close to breaking Buyo’s record. I never imagined it. I never thought I could reach such a figure.