MADRID: Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas said on Thursday that he still believes his side can progress to the Champions League final, despite being battered 4-1 in the first-leg of their semi-final against Borussia Dortmund.
Robert Lewandowski was the hero for the Germans as he became the first man to score a hat-trick against Real in the Champions League with all four goals on the evening.
But Casillas said he was convinced that Los Blancos have the weapons to produce a famous comeback at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday, even if many are already writing them off.
“The belief in the comeback exists,” he told a press conference in the Spanish capital.
“I think there is a great opportunity. We are playing at home, the fans will be motivated and what we need to do is ask for their support.
“For the individual and collective qualities, I think that in the Bernabeu we have the players to come back in this tie. The ideal thing, without underestimating Dortmund, would be to go into half-time 2-0 up. I believe we have more individual quality than them. “We are a step from the final with a very adverse result and we are conscious that just to get to a semi-final is very difficult. I have had years of getting to the last-16 and quarter-finals and every year that passes it hurts me because it is another year we go out losing.
“All we are thinking about is fighting until we are left without air at the Bernabeu to try and get into the final.”
The final takes place on May 25 at London’s Wembley stadium.
Casillas had to watch Wednesday’s match from the bench as he continues to be overlooked by manager Jose Mourinho in favour of Diego Lopez.
The World Cup and double European championship-winning Spain captain has not played since January after breaking a bone in his hand and as Lopez’s performances keep him on the sidelines.
Casillas has admitted that he and Mourinho do not have the warmest of relationships but said the good of the club comes before both of them.
“Mourinho is honest. Our professional relationship is very respectful and on the personal side it is obvious that we don’t have the same relationship,” he added.
“Xabi Alonso said the same thing and I don’t think we need to keep going round in circles. I will say again, above everything is the club.”
Meanwhile, Lewandowski a hot target for Europe’s top clubs but Borussia Dortmund now face a fight to keep their Poland star.
His record haul against Real at Signal Iduna Park in Wednesday’s 4-1 first-leg win made him the first player to score four goals in a Champions League semi-final and left Dortmund on the verge of their first Euro final since 1997.
The 24-year-old’s Dortmund deal expires in June 2014 and he has already said he will not be signing an extension, having joined Borussia in 2010, but his advisor, Maik Barthel, has said Lewandowski will be gone by the close season.
“We are in agreement with a club and have the right to change this summer,” Barthel told Sport Bild online.
“There is a very interesting offer for Robert, which corresponds to the obligations imposed by BVB in full and satisfies Robert’s demands.
“BVB has assured us that Robert can change clubs at the end of the season, under these conditions. Agencies
