“Surely Mbappé was impressed to see the Bernabéu”

Casemiro (Sao Paulo, 2-23-1992) has reached his 150th victory with Real Madrid. In this interview with AS, the Spanish-Brazilian reviews the moment of the team after the blow to Paris Saint Germain and the imminent visit of Barcelona. “What happens at the Bernabéu doesn’t happen anywhere else in the world. It’s a special stadium.”

There are ten games left for the end of the League and the distance is ten points to Sevilla, second. Is the wing coming?

There is still a lot of League left, there are still 30 points at stake. Now comes Barça, the best Barça of the season. And then another nine more games. The most beautiful things come, the most important too. We are thinking of winning every game, starting with Barcelona. We know that we have a very important advantage, but there are still ten days ahead of us.

Against Barça, will it be a different game if Benzema doesn’t recover in time?

I hope he can play because Karim is essential for us. Anyone would miss a player like him. He is at a high level of play and is confident. If he finally can’t play, Benzema someone else will, but getting to the level that Karim has now is not easy. But hey, against PSG we couldn’t all be there and we already saw what the team did.

Couldn’t play the second leg against PSG due to suspension, but I imagine the joy would be the same?

The fans supported us to the fullest, it was a magical night that can only be experienced at the Bernabéu, at Real Madrid. I couldn’t play, but I celebrated every play, every ball, like any other Madridista. I enjoyed a lot, like the whole stadium.

Would you like to see the Bernabéu the same in the Clásico?

You always want that, but the players know that the public is going to help us and that the Bernabéu is a special stadium. His push is very important for the team.

Do you think that Madrid has become the bogeyman of the draw?

The history of this team weighs heavily and the rivals know it. There are 13 Champions, and that is no coincidence. It is the consequence of a lot of work by many players throughout history. It is true that football is the time and that the teams have better and worse. But whenever you get Madrid, and the other teams know it, you know that a difficult tie awaits you. Not only because of the quality of the team, but also because of the history and weight of the Bernabéu. What happens in our stadium does not happen in any other stadium in the world. That only for here, in Madrid.

But don’t you think that more emphasis had been placed on teams like City or PSG, loaded with stars?

Madrid also has a Ballon d’Or in its squad, and others that could be. We have Benzema, who should be. We also have the best goalkeeper in the world, Courtois. People know what Madrid is and know the quality of its players.

Ancelotti said, right here, at AS, a couple of months ago that he did not rule out Atlético in this Champions League. The draw for the quarterfinals of the Champions League is here and Madrid and Atlético will be there…

What Simeone has done with Atlético deserves the respect of all football people. Cholo has transformed the team. Before arriving he was an Atlético and now with Cholo he is another, a team that competes in the League and the Champions League. Simeone has my total respect.

There is a lot of talk about Casemiro’s style of play, a player who always goes to the limit to help the team. Do you think that people know that, since he played for Real Madrid, you have never been sent off for a direct red card?

I believe that the values ​​that one has are what is important. In football you can make a mistake, but without losing respect for the opponent or the referees. The foul is a consequence of the game, part of football. I try to play my game, steal balls and help my team and never to hurt the opponent.

Do you think that Mbappé was impressed when he saw the construction of the new Bernabéu and how the stadium is going to look? Would you like to have him as a partner?

Surely it impressed him, because it impresses me that I see him every day. But what really impressed him was the fans, who pushed until the end and were very important in Madrid’s victory against PSG.

Do you enjoy playing alongside Modric and Kroos or are you sometimes envious that they have the tactical freedom that the coach, Ancelotti, doesn’t give you?

I don’t feel any envy. For me it is an honor to play alongside Modrid and Kroos. What they have done for football is something very big. I don’t want to say that I would sacrifice myself for them, because people wouldn’t understand it well. Because each one of us plays our game, and if they didn’t help me defensively I wouldn’t be able to do it offensively. The field is very big just for Casemiro…

Camavinga says that he learns a lot from you, especially from your ability to sacrifice. Antonio Blanco has also commented on it on occasion. And the coach, Ancelotti, has said that the youngsters are helping the veterans a lot. It looks like there’s a team…

I have learned the values ​​of Real Madrid, which is to give everything in every game. That is what I try to transmit to the youngest, but not only in the games, also in the day to day in Valdebebas. If you think of me as a player who gives everything for the team, then I really appreciate it. Casemiro, all of us, we will leave Madrid one day and others will come who will have to continue with their story. Madrid is a club that lives from its titles, but also from its values, from giving everything until the end.

The big secret of Real Madrid this season is that they are playing as a team?

We are doing it, but not only this year. Madrid has always had, and has, the best players in each position. We had and have Ballon d’Ors. But football is played with eleven plus what enters. With individual talent you can win a game, but to win titles you need to have a team.

They say that his first coach, Morera, who had a soccer school in a very poor neighborhood, like his, was the first to believe in Casemiro, who forgave him the fees and gave him a scholarship to go to his school for free. But the interesting thing is that they say that he has not forgotten him. Are you still in contact with him?

Of course he did, he talked to him every week because Morera has been an important person in my life, both personally and professionally. It is true that as a child he opened the doors of his school and let me learn with him. Morera is like a father to me. If I am a good player and a good person it is thanks to him and my mother. Morera wasn’t rich either, but it’s true that he let me go to his school for free and that he gave me clothes and food to take home.

Has he ever said that he is more excited about stealing balls than scoring goals. That, in a team like Real Madrid, is a rarity…

Of course I like to score goals, and I love it. But what makes me happiest is stealing balls and helping the team. What I enjoy the most is stealing balls.

What do you expect from Antonio Blanco?

White is growing a lot. He is young and we cannot put too much pressure on him. He is taking sensations of player of the first team. I believe that he is a footballer who will be able to play in the first team because he has character and quality. But he has to burn his stages.

Do you know that there is talk of Mbappé and Haaland to strengthen the team?

They are not Madrid players and therefore I cannot say much more. They are ‘top’ players, of proven quality. I see how they play and their goals, and both are great players.

What has Ancelotti done well to have the team the way it is?

Ancelotti is a gentleman, a gentleman. He has been in football for more than forty years and has earned all respect. Not only because of what he has won, which we could be talking about for a whole day. For me the best thing about Ancelotti is his ambition to want to win. Carlo is always looking for victory. And then, tactically, there are few in the world like him. He is a teacher. Also, for me, it has been an advantage to have him because he played as a defensive midfielder, and I constantly ask him about situations in the game. He helps me a lot. Ancelotti breathes football.

Brazil has already qualified for the next World Cup in Qatar, which will come in full season in just ten months. Does it make you weird?

Brazil is growing, putting together a strong team with a very good mix of young and veteran players. Brazil is like Real Madrid, they are always among the favourites. Then win or not because they are football things. The World Cup consists of seven games and the one who makes the fewest mistakes will win the Cup.