Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas eyes clean sheet milestone
Keylor Navas will become the first Real Madrid goalkeeper since 1975 to keep three consecutive clean sheets at the start of a season if he keeps out Espanyol on Saturday.
Keylor Navas will become the first Real Madrid goalkeeper since 1975 to keep three consecutive clean sheets at the start of a season if he keeps out Espanyol on Saturday.
Real drew 0-0 at Sporting Gijon in their league opener, and in their second game Navas saved a penalty in a 5-0 victory over Real Betis.
The last Real goalkeeper to go three games without conceding a goal at the season's start was Miguel Angel in the 1975-76 campaign, as he kept five clean sheets in a row. And Miguel Angel says the current Real No. 1 must take the events of the past week in his stride.
Navas nearly joined Manchester United on transfer deadline day as part of the David De Gea deal but still finds himself between the posts at the Bernabeu.
"Navas has to forget the unpleasant situation that he has experienced," Miguel Angel said in today's edition of Spanish sports newspaper Marca. "He has to take this as a challenge.
"The motivation of being the goalkeeper of Madrid and not a coin that is exchanged must give him [Navas] the will to surpass himself."
Navas, 28, joined Real from Levante on a six-year contract last summer after a hugely impressive performance at the World Cup with Costa Rica. He was given permission by his country to remain in Madrid during the international break and not travel to the United States to play against Brazil last weekend. He will also miss Tuesday's friendly against Uruguay in San Jose.
Keylor Navas and David De Gea were at the centre of deadline day drama.
Navas was an understudy last season but has taken over as first choice under new coach Rafa Benitez since Iker Casillas' move to FC Porto.
Miguel Angel believes Navas will learn a lot this season at Real. "Perhaps his only problem is that he lacks experience in big games," he added.
As for Miguel Angel, he went on to capture La Liga with Real in the 1975-76 campaign and won the Zamora trophy as the best goalkeeper in the league that season. He retired in 1986 after 18 consecutive campaigns playing for Real, with whom he won eight league titles, five Copa del Rey trophies and two UEFA Cups.