Word has it, it's OVER between Iker & Eva. I don't believe it, let's see what she says. As it's only her who talks about their relationship. He never says anything

http://www.quemedices.orange.es/carticulos/187461.html

IT'S OFFICIAL IT'S OVER!

Ambitious Casillas

"I want to win the League and the Zamora Trophy, and to play in the Euro 2008"

Iker Casillas, goalkeeper of Real Madrid and captain of the Spanish national team, said during a small conference with sports journalists at a school that he wished to win the League, the Zamora Trophy -awarded to the keeper with the least conceded goals in the season in Spain- and to play in the Euro 2008 with Spain.

Casillas talked about the relationship players have with sports journalists. "It is impossible to get along with everyone," said the keeper, "Sometimes it seems we are at odds with journalists because, at the end of the day, they are the ones who asses and criticise your work after every game. I've been lucky to have been brought up as a player at Real Madrid because I've known most of the journalists who cover us since I was 17 years old. Many of them started out as journalists when I started out as a player."

Iker admitted being his fiercest critic. "Every player should criticise his performance after a game," he added, "At first, I read all the papers that said something about me that pissed me off. I have learned to value that criticism as it should. It's inevitable; we will always receive negative criticism."

The Spanish captain also shared his views on the objectivity of journalists, saying it varies depending on which team they support. "Some of them are very staunch. All of us may not listen to a radio show or buy a newspaper simply because we know who the journalists support and we don't agree with them."

The keeper also stressed how hard it is for youth system players to make it to the first team. "The Bosman Law was detrimental for all of us until Raúl made it big," he said, "That gave us strength to try to make it to the top. I was lucky because I won the Under-20 World Cup with Spain in Nigeria and practically all of us on that team made it to the First Division. People started having more faith in the youth system."

Casillas said he doesn't want to "change teams" and didn't want to say anything about the possibility of having a different coach next season. "I have a coach right now and I don't want to comment on any other," he stressed, "I support Fabio Capello 100 percent right now in order to try and solve the problems we've had these last three years. I think the season can still be surprising because many teams have chances of winning the League."

Real Madrid vs. Valencia

GOALKEEPERS: Casillas & Diego López

DEFENDERS: Ramos, Cicinho, Helguera, Cannavaro, Pavón, Marcelo, Salgado & Torres

MIDFIELDERS: Guti, Gago, Diarra, Robinho, Raúl, Reyes & Beckham

STRIKERS: Higuaín, Cassano & Van Nistelrooy

Casillas calls for stability

Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has admitted that the constant media circus and changes at the club are affecting team performances.

Since the resignation of former president Florentino Perez last year, the Merengues have endured a particularly turbulent spell, with two further changes of president, the latter of which is still being ratified following a voting scandal, the arrival of a new sporting director, and a new coach.

“The team has been subject to a lot of internal and external changes,” he told Eurosport exclusively.

“When I say internal changes, I'm referring to the transfers of players, while the external ones are to do with the president and directors etc. All these factors have an effect, and even more so in a club like Real Madrid. We are going through a period of a lot of changes, and I don't think the club has managed to adjust yet.

“Everything has an influence. It's inevitable that everything that happens around the club ends up getting through to the dressing room. What's more, as a Madridista, you end up suffering as a result of the things that happen to your team. But this should not be used as an excuse [for results]. If a team can still get good results, even though things aren't working well on an institutional level, you will still be successful.”

“There has to be more peace at the club as a whole, and this atmosphere will transmit itself to the players and coaches. Having stability is fundamental. It seems that now that the postal voting issue has been solved, we will be able to work more in peace.”

The future of current boss Fabio Capello has been the subject of almost daily media speculation ever since the club's early season form saw them fall off the pace set by title-chasing rivals Sevilla and Barcelona, despite the large sums of money spent on new players last summer.

Rumours emerged last week that Getafe coach Bernd Schuster had signed an initial agreement with Real, though the German subsequently denied this, while a few days later, Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez admitted he had turned down an approach from Madrid to take over as manager last summer.

The 25-year-old refused to comment on Capello's future at the club, though insisted that the constant rumours surrounding the Italian's position were bound to affect him.

“I can only tell you what you already know,” he Casillas added. “He has a contract until the end of this season, and then for two further seasons. The normal thing would be for him to continue with us. If the people in power decide that he should not continue, then I imagine that not just Capello, but also all other members of the squad would be told.

“Putting myself in his position, it must be difficult to hear that Schuster, Benitez or whoever else could replace him next season.”

Despite their internal strife, and an abysmal home record, Real remain firmly in the title race thanks to recent slip-ups from Sevilla and Barcelona, and Casillas insists he believes the club can still make back their two-point deficit on the Catalans, and win their first piece of silverware in four years.

“It seems like nobody fancied us, but we knew we would be in the fight right until the end. I am not surprised,” he said.

“We have dropped too many points at home, and it could cost us come the end of the season. But I believe that there's still time to correct this situation and to redeem ourselves in front of our supporters.”

Celebrating Sergio's goal...