Florentino Perez, Real Madrid’s President, challenged the team to focus on winning a 15th European Cup as the players celebrated their latest Champions League triumph with thousands of fans in the Spanish capital on Sunday.
On Saturday night, Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 1-0 at the Stade de France, with Vinicius Junior scoring the game’s only goal to give the club their fifth Champions League trophy in the last nine seasons.
On Sunday, the players took the trophies on an open-top bus tour of the city, stopping at the Almudena Cathedral, regional government headquarters, City Hall, Plaza Cibeles, and lastly the Santiago Bernabeu to commemorate their achievement.
“Real Madrid has made history again and here is our 14th European Cup and 35th La Liga trophy,” Florentino Perez said at the regional government headquarters.
“This European Cup, won against a legendary club like Liverpool, will be remembered as one of the greatest in the history of the Champions League.
“This club’s legend grows bigger and bigger. We have beaten four of the best teams in Europe by fighting and always believing until the end.
“It has been a wonderful season and it has been achieved in one of the most beautiful and difficult times in our history. Five Champions Leagues in eight years is something very difficult for football fans to forget from all over the world. Madrid is eternal. And now, let’s go for the 15th.”
Perez also hailed Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, who became the first coach in history to win four European Cups and all five major European championships this season.
“He symbolises what Real Madrid is,” said Perez.
The Real Madrid players, dressed in black suits, white shirts, and black ties, paraded the trophies around each venue, signing autographs, and posing for photos with their adoring supporters.
The players wore Real Madrid shirts with the number 14 and the words “champions” on the back to the top of the bus.
The Champions League trophy was shared by Karim Benzema and Marcelo, who each held a handle, while the La Liga trophy was carried by Luka Modric and Nacho Fernandez.
“I haven’t slept much, I had too much adrenaline to be able to sleep,” said Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid’s goalkeeper who was named man of the match in the final.
“I still couldn’t believe it, it’s an incredible feeling. For me it’s an honour to play for Real Madrid and I hope I can help the team win more.”
Later on Sunday, the Real Madrid bus arrived at Plaza Cibeles, the central square at the end of Gran Via, where the team typically celebrates its major victories with fans around the Cibeles fountain.
The players rode the bus back to the Santiago Bernabeu for a final celebration ceremony after saluting the hundreds of fans assembled at Cibeles.
