Madrid challenge stirs deputy Dudek

Jerzy Dudek, a UEFA Champions League winner with Liverpool FC, insists he is content with life at Real Madrid CF despite not having played so far this term.

No action
The 34-year-old goalkeeper moved to the Santiago Bernabéu in the summer after six seasons in the English Premier League, but three months into his Spanish stay the former Polish international has still to see competitive action. The lack of playing time represents a new challenge for Dudek, who made 266 league appearances in eleven campaigns with Feyenoord and then Liverpool. Nevertheless, he maintains he is just happy to be a Madrid player.

'New experience'
"It's my first three months here and this is a new experience for me," he said. "I couldn't say 'no' to Madrid when the option came to sign. We'll see what happens in the future – if the situation remains like this, there's an option to do something but right now I'm happy."

Casillas performing
Blocking Dudek's route to first-team football is Iker Casillas. The Spanish international, 26, has been in fine form, catching the eye again on UEFA Champions League Matchday 3 during the 4-2 win against Olympiacos CFP. "When the team need Iker, he always performs and is always in the right place," explained Dudek. "He made two excellent stops against Olympiacos. After the first one we had a counterattack where we almost scored, and after the second we did score which was fantastic for Iker, the team, and the supporters because they love him here."

Change of scene
As well as competing for the No1 slot, the 2004/05 European Champion Clubs' Cup winner has also had to settle in new surroundings, something that was not easy to begin with. "I've been adapting well to life in Madrid. I realised when I came that I wouldn't be playing all the time so I told myself I needed to enjoy my time here as much as I could," he said. "Everyone has been very helpful. During the first month I found a house and then brought my family over. I put my son in a Spanish school and although he wasn't happy in the first week, he has started to love it and from the moment he started to love it, I started to love it even more."

Backing Liverpool
If Group C leaders Madrid look on course for a place in the first knockout round, the same cannot be said of Liverpool. However, Dudek is backing his old club to progress from Group A despite having taken one point from their three matches. "When you perform the way they have been, it's very difficult but a team like Liverpool are always dangerous and even with one point they still have a chance to qualify for the next round."