Casemiro answered questions from the media ahead of Real Madrid’s meeting with Inter Milan in the final group stage match of the Champions League. The Brazilian gave his thoughts on the opponents, Madrid’s current run of form, tiredness within the squad and the possibility that Kylian Mbappé could soon be on his way to the Bernabéu.
The Inter game: “As always, we confront our games seriously and with respect. Inter are a great side. We will be playing for first place, we need to be calm and respect the team we are facing. We know that they are the Italian champions and that it will be difficult”.
Tiredness and few rotations: “People always talk about those things, and worry about fatigue. But we have a very good technical team and with Pintus, they’re doing a great job. They keep a close watch on everything. It’s always good to have depth in the squad – Valverde, Camavinga, Isco… They are all good players. We’re privileged to have Kroos and Modric. But it’s important to have a good squad”.
Criticism aimed at Vinicius and Militão: “Whenever you talk about Madrid, the demands and expectations are the highest in the world. Whether you join aged 18 or aged 30. That’s why we are the best club in the world. Like I always say, because they are young and have come over to Europe from Brazil, the adaptation is a little more difficult. They should just enjoy the moment. What Vini, Rodrygo and Militão have achieved is impressive but they need to remain humble and enjoy the moment. And work hard, in football, you have good days and bad days”.
Do you ever get tired? “The technical team monitor us, and Mino Fulco, who can be a pain at times, watches what we eat, Pintus… everyone. I’m only human, I’m not a robot. The coaching staff look at everything, how much we play and how much rest we get”.
Vinicius: “For us, it’s a privilege that he is in such a great moment of form. He’s important for us when he is playing well. The difference this season is that he has had games in which he hasn’t played well but he has decided it like a top player. He did have a good game against Sevilla but he scored a brilliant goal, the kind a top player scores. He decided the game, few players can do that”.
What is the key to Madrid’s run of results? “Football is about moments, and right now we are in a very good moment. We have to enjoy this moment. We’re human, we will have moments when things aren’t going so well. We need a good squad, every game is difficult, our rivals study us, they all want to get a result against Madrid. The key is hard work. We have to keep going in every game we play”.
Is Vinicius the best in the world right now? “That’s a difficult question. We have very important players here – Karim, Courtois, who are at an incredible level, and Kroos who is in a great moment of form.. So talking about Vinicius is difficult, we don’t see what’s happening in other leagues. But without doubt he’s in a great moment. I hope he continues that way”.
Madrid’s big advantage in LaLiga: “Well, when it comes to Madrid, it’s about being high up the table, that is demanded of us. Here, what counts is winning – victories, the club will always keep winning. We work to ensure that we are always at the top. It’s down to the work we do in training, but the key is the determination we have going into every game. We know the responsibility that we have”.
Mbappé: “Although is isn’t one of our players, people talk about him as though he was. He¡s an amazing player, top 3 in the world. He is compatible with any player in the world, including Vinicius. But he is not a Real Madrid player, we can’t talk about him”.
Camavinga: “He’s young, he is full of energy, he’s willing, we can’t put pressure on him because he’s only 18. Sometimes things can go too quickly but that’s a part of being at this club and it’s good that we can count on him. The coaching staff have a lot of faith in him, it’s his first season at Madrid”.
