Former Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn has defended Iker Casillas following recent criticism directed at the Real Madrid stopper.
The 45-year-old, one of the most successful German players of all time, says he can understand what Casillas is going through as he also suffered the wrath of fans during his glittering career.
“Casillas failed at this year’s World Cup but so did a lot of other Spanish players,” Kahn told AS at a promotional event in Doha.
“It’s not fair that everyone blamed him, although as a goalkeeper your mistakes are magnified even more.
“He was considered one of the main culprits for the failure of the national team but it wasn’t like that, because others did not reach the level they showed in South Africa in 2010.
“I can understand what he is going through as it also happened to me. It’s a daunting task to recover your motivation when you’ve won everything and then receive a setback.
“Overcoming it is very difficult and I can appreciate how he feels both emotionally and physically, besides the physiological effort involved, but a player of his age and experience can get over it.
“In fact, that’s what he is doing right now as he is still first choice for Madrid and Spain.”
Kahn also commented on the Ballon d’Or award and feels it is time it stopped being dominated by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
“In recent years it has become a tennis match between Ronaldo and Messi and it’s time the voters took a look at other players.
“As a goalkeeper I wish it would be won by a goalkeeper. Everyone is talking about [Manuel] Neuer and I think he has a better chance than a lot of others because he is not just a stopper.
“He plays more like an extramarker or a sweeper and that isvery valuable,” he explained.
