Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas says he would rather win the Champions League than La Liga this season.
Madrid meet Juventus in the semi-finals of Europe's premier club
competition, starting with Tuesday's first leg in Turin, while they
trail Barcelona by two points in the Primera Division with five rounds
remaining.
Carlo Ancelotti's men will be the first team to retain the Champions
League title in its current format should they reach and win the final
in Berlin in June and the 33-year-old says he would rather do that than
win a first league crown in three years.
"In La Liga we don't depend on ourselves and in Europe we do,"
Casillas said at an event organised by Hyundai in Madrid on Thursday.
"So I would pick the Champions League.
"The boss said it the other day. It's easier, within reason, to win
the Champions League. We have a greater opportunity to compete on our
own merit. The four semi-finalists have a 25 per cent chance. We depend
on ourselves."
And Casillas, who has won the competition three times with Madrid,
added: "The Madrid fans are very keen on the Champions League. Winning
the European Cup twice in a row has never been achieved in the modern
day. It's an exciting challenge."
Before facing Juve next week, Madrid face a tough trip to Sevilla in
La Liga, with Unai Emery's on-form side unbeaten at the Sanchez Pizjuan
in over a year.
"They are very strong at home," Casillas said. "They are in the
semi-finals of the Europa League and fighting to qualify for the
Champions League. It will be a very special game for the spectators.
Let's hope we can win the three points.
"Our objective is to make things difficult for Barcelona. Winning the
three points in Seville would give us the hope to keep on fighting."
Asked to choose a special memory from his career which includes an
array of trophies with Madrid and Spain, Casillas said: "First, the
European Cup in 2000. It was incredible because I went from playing in
the fourth tier to the Primera Division and then we won the Champions
League.
"Then there is the World Cup as well. Those trophies have a different taste to the others."
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