Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has shown remarkable resilience to bounce back from a run of poor performances and doubts over his future at the club earlier this year.

The Real captain saved his second penalty in consecutive matches when he kept out a spot-kick against Cruz Azul at the Club World Cup on Tuesday to emphasise his return to form.

Casillas was whistled by his own supporters when Real lost the La Liga derby with Atletico Madrid in mid-September but he has since enjoyed a renaissance that has coincided with their Spanish record 21-match winning streak.

“I have always been the same but players clearly go through good and bad runs. In the end all you can do is keep your head up and keep going,” Casillas told reporters.

He parried a first-half penalty in Real’s 4-0 win over Cruz Azul in the Club World Cup semi-final, having stopped a spot-kick in last Friday’s 4-1 victory at Almeria in La Liga.

“It is always good to have in mind what you have achieved although you can’t live off it.

“Making two penalty saves is a nice anecdote if and when things work out and we win the titles,” he added.

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