Keylor Navas saving his best for Real Madrid
Saturday, October 24, 2015
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Nine clean sheets in 12 Real Madrid games is a measure of how well Keylor Navas has been playing this season; UEFA.com's Richard Martin gives the Costa Rican credit.
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Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, Danilo and Marcelo may have allowed Real Madrid to win a testing tie at Celta Vigo 3-1 and go top of the table, but Keylor Navas was Saturday's hero for Rafael Benitez's side.
The goalkeeper made a string of impressive saves in the first half and Celta coach Eduardo Berrizo was in awe of the goalkeeper, admitting: "His performance denied us four or five goals. He didn't make one mistake. He kept out certain goals and allowed our opponents to win the game."
The 28-year-old's first intervention was to claim a header from Fabian Orellana after Cristiano Ronaldo's first time effort had put Madrid ahead, and then he tipped the Chilean's low shot around the far post.
With Madrid 2-0 up thanks to Danilo's sweeping finish, an unsighted Navas stuck out a fist to block an Iago Aspas shot destined for the top corner, but he upstaged himself a few minutes later, diving backwards to claw away Pablo Hernández's close-range header.
"We have to congratulate Keylor for saving those three shots – I have no idea how he did it," said Celta forward Nolito, while Navas' team-mate Lucas Vázquez added: "Keylor is a team player. He is just as important as a goalscorer. He is playing at the highest level and I just hope he continues to do so."
Nolito eventually got the better of the goalkeeper in the 85th minute, his powerful, curling drive finding the top corner, and denying the Costa Rican a tenth clean sheet of the season. It was only the third goal Navas has conceded in 12 matches this term, and he remains unbeaten in the UEFA Champions League.
Remarkably, one of Real Madrid's stars of the season so far came within minutes of leaving the club. On the night of 31 August, Navas was waiting in the departures lounge of Madrid's Barajas Airport, ready to board a flight to England to seal a move to Manchester United as part of a swap deal for David de Gea that was called off at the last minute.
Navas admitted to bursting into tears when returning home after that emotional rollercoaster of a day, but he must be grateful that fate allowed him to stay in the Spanish capital, and have the chance to fill the gloves of Iker Casillas.
"Casillas was a reference point for Real Madrid, but my aim is not to make people to forget Iker," Navas said. "My aim is to write my own piece of history – to try to give joy to my family, all Real Madrid supporters and to everyone who believed in me."
At the moment, Navas is on the right track.