Real Madrid Luis Llopis spends hours studying each rival

Keylor Navas swapped the chance of a holiday in Costa Rica to stay in Spain for surgery on his Achilles tendon, and he is prepared to make sacrifices so he can carry on wearing the No. 1 shirt and winning trophies with Real Madrid.

The goalkeeper cuts a lonely figure at the Ciudad Real Madrid training centre in Valdebebas with his teammates taking part in tournaments around the world or enjoying their summer break.

On crutches, he talked to MARCA about his professional life and his overwhelming desire to carry on succeeding at Real Madrid.

Which gives you most pleasure - to play for the first time in the stadium, to take the No 1 shirt from Iker Casillas or the first game after August 31?

"I never take any notice of numbers but obviously No. 1 is a very good number for goalkeepers but if they had given me 2000 or 1000 or 98 it would have been my number as well.

"Casillas has been an excellent keeper and had an incredible career here, which I respect and admire.

"But when the season started I was already here, it was my time and the chance to write my history.

"I intend to have a good career here so people will remember me as a great footballer and a great person."

Where do you get your speed and reflexes from?

"I think I have the ability to be fast but the goalkeeping coaches have helped me a lot and have developed a way of training which is very good.

"Since I was 14 years old I've had coaches like Luis Gabelo Conejo in Costa Rica, Roger Mora in Deportivo Saprissa, Carlos Cano at Albacete, and at Levante I came across Luis Llopis who is here now.

"They all understood my way of stopping shots and helped me to improve.

"Having Llopis here is key for me because he knows me so well, he knows when we should work hard and sends me for a siesta in the afternoon or when I have to be calmer to be in the right frame of mind for a game."

How many hours do you spend discussing your opponents with him?

"Many hours, because we can easily spend at least an hour on each video.

"We look at what happens with their corners, defences which can take shots and be dangerous.

"He is very intense and gives us all the information he can, which is very useful in games.

"You know their tactics for set pieces, how they take corners, we know everything."

Isn't he a bit too intense?

"I wasn't used to it at first that's true, but I have worked with him for several years and thank him for it.

"When I was at Levante I went to the World Cup knowing everything about my opponents in the group stage.

"I passed this information around and also videos which could help my teammates with information about the opposing keepers if the game went to penalties."

Did you know what would happen to Sergio Ramos's penalty against Croatia?

"No, not that.

"He usually shoots to one particular side but this can be changed, no matter how much you study.

"You can see a player take 20 penalties and see that 98 per cent of them are shot to the right but one day this changes.

"In my case, the information can help with your feelings as you have a good idea of what will happen."

How was the operation?

"Thank God everything has gone well and I'm recovering nicely, which is the most important thing."

How is the day-to-day recovery?

"I'm taking everything calmly and I'm happy.

"Many times, I wish things were different but I can't change it.

"I have to come here, to be with the physiotherapist and to work perfectly to be 100 per cent fit as soon as possible."

How many hours a day do you work?

"About three-and-a-half hours at Valdebebas and then in the afternoon I carry on exercising on the machines that they have given me to use at home, which are needed for my recovery."

How does it feel to spend the holidays in Madrid when you could be in Costa Rica?

"Fortunately my family are here with me and support me in everything I do, which makes things easier.

"It is strange not to be in Costa Rica and I have family there but you have to make these decisions at times.

"There will be time later to do other things."

How was the surgery?

"I got used to the pain and was controlling it but it hurt a lot when I played.

"When I went for tests, I took the decision to go under the knife because it was better for my health.

"It was a difficult year and, although I worked through the pain, it wasn't recommended.

"At the end of the season, they had to sort out the problems."

How many games did you play like this?

"Many times, I've had to have treatment and was in agony for many games but I pushed through it.

"You always want to play although I also said when I couldn't play because I was honest.

"There were times when I need a break so I could be stronger for the next game."

How long is the recovery?

"Only the doctor knows that.

"The idea is to join in preseason training with my teammates but I need to be 100 per cent fit.

"I always work with a lot of enthusiasm and humility and am hoping to be better than last year.

"This is the goal I've set myself and will work towards it."

Has this been the best season of your life?

"I've had very good seasons but it is true that with Real Madrid you have the opportunity to win titles and to make it even more special.

"It wasn't an easy year for me because all eyes were on me but I put my faith in God and my work and had a great year."

How many times have you thought about what happened on August 31 when you were too late to transfer to Manchester United?

"It's not good when something like that happens but I'm not someone who is always looking back and I don't bear any grudges.

"All I saw was that God had given me the chance to fulfil my dream, which was to play another year with Los Blancos and win titles.

"I was enjoying it all - La Liga games, the Champions League.

"I'm extremely grateful to everyone who has helped me here.

"The night of August 31 was a bitter pill I had to swallow but it's already forgotten and everything is lovely."

Was it decided then that you would win the Champions League?

"I have faith in God and I know he would never give me something so bad that I couldn't cope.

"Many times you are tested in life which you don't understand at first but that you learn from over time and it makes you stronger.

"It made me push myself harder and to put things right.

"Everything happens for a reason and I knew something good would happen, I felt it in my heart."

As well as the Champions League, you won the heart of Estadio Santiago Bernabeu and your teammates.

"It's amazing what has happened to me this year.

"For me to go the stadium, to play, to have the fans sing my name, to see the love that my teammates have for me, to have the confidence of the coaches, these are all good things which are a reward for all the work I have done.

"I know that I would not get something for nothing here and I've fought for it every day with all my heart and soul.

"In the end God has given me the chance to enjoy all these things which is very satisfying.

How does it feel to be champion of the Champions League?

"Incredible, it was tremendously intense.

"I saw the 10th victory on TV and when I arrived at the club I saw photos of it and said to myself that I want to live this at same stage.

"It was a dream which I have been able to fulfil, thank God.

"It was very enjoyable to be European champion."

How did you feel when you heard the anthem being sung at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza?

"It's beautiful to hear this, it's amazing.

"I looked up at the stadium and enjoyed the moment because we were privileged to be there."

Did you enjoy the final?

"I tried to enjoy it because it was a privilege but I needed to stay calm.

"It's like when you study for an exam and you want to take the test because you know all the answers.

"I have faith in my work because I train hard, although you never know what will happen but I am ready to defend in the best possible way."

Was the penalty the tensest time of your career?

"It had a lot of tension but I trusted my teammates.

"I did my best and knew my colleagues would do likewise but I knew I would have to make one save or we would go out."