Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea has defended Iker Casillas, who was criticised for his performance in Sunday’s El Clasico.
Real Madrid stopper Casillas was questioned in some quarters for his reaction to Lionel Messi’s second goal from a free-kick and a failure to come off his line for the first.
However, De Gea has insisted that if people start to doubt Casillas then they must analyse every single ‘keeper.
“Iker is the best in the world but he is also human. If you start to doubt him then you doubt every single goalkeeper,” he told Radio Nacional de Espana.
“There are times when things don't go well and it looks like you are a worse goalkeeper. But we are human beings
"Goalkeepers are always judged very quickly by everyone. We are not rated very highly and people should value us more, because if you don't have a goalkeeper you don’t have a game.”
As a result, De Gea thinks it highly unlikely that Madrid and Spain captain Casillas will be a serious contender to win the Ballon d’Or.
“It's very difficult for a goalkeeper to win the Ballon d'Or but, as Casillas is the best in the world in his position, it would be nice if he won it.”
The former Atletico Madrid man revealed that he still follows the results of his former club but believes the mentality has changed from when he was at the Vicente Calderon.
“It's a great achievement to be up there fighting for top spot from the start as they have been doing. I hope they can finish where they are now at the end of the season.
“They are still up there for a reason. Their biggest quality is the faith they place in themselves, and that mentality has been instilled in them by 'Cholo' Simeone.”
