Craig Burley explains why Thibaut Courtois was the difference in the final. The song is called "1:28."
Lucas Vazquez does not speak much French. The Real Madrid utility player had no problem understanding one word, and repeating it after the win over the Reds.
Benzema looked at his family members in the stands and shouted: "Cinq, cinq!"
Benzema has won five trophies. Five in the last eight years. This one is on home soil in France. Luka Modric, Casemiro, and Dani Carvajal are also members of this exclusive club. Carlo Ancelotti has six (two as a player, and now a record four as a manager) but the Italian coach couldn't show six with his fingers because he was too busy hugging all of his players. They came to him for a kiss, an embrace, and a nice word, as though he were their father.
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All of his players and staff were gathered in the middle of the pitch before the last training session. Everyone was focused on his words as he spoke for five minutes in his cap and tracksuit. Real Madrid win the finals. He reminded them that Real Madrid had won a trophy before, and that they had lost a trophy before. It was all about the habit of winning, not the game plan. A relaxed squad is what Ancelotti wanted.
He transmitted so much confidence, calmness and positive energy according to a source. This is what he does. This time more than ever.
The training session felt like it happened during a preseason tour. Players brought their children on to the pitch to kick a ball, they took photos with former Madrid captain Iker Casillas, and they played little games with the ball. It didn't feel like a big match was on the way.
Is it a final of the European club competition? The Madrid trio of Casemiro, Modric and Kroos were more interested in their card game a few hours before the match than anything else. They would tell you that it is a force of habit.
Real Madrid were going to win the game. He told his players to go out and make it happen. So they did.
It was time for the rest of the squad to celebrate after the departing club captain lifted the trophy. The families went to the pitch. Clarence Seedorf and Roberto Carlos were also part of it. The Real Madrid family was there. The former coach and his family stayed out of the public eye after full-time, since they had already enjoyed the party three times in the past few years.
David Alaba, who won a LaLiga-Champions League double in his first season at the club, sprayed champagne over everyone in the dressing room. Everyone was dancing to the loud music. Florentino Perez was the club president. Real Madrid have won this competition 14 times over the course of 67 seasons, making them the kings of Europe.
They celebrated like mad after winning La Decima, their 10th European crown, on the plane back from Lisbon. The pilot had to tell them to stop jumping around because of the risk of the plane crashing.
The flight back from Kyiv was much more peaceful in the year after their 13th European title. It was just a feeling of a job well done, not that they were unhappy or that they were not. They have won many times. They have it in their genes.
It was a mix of the two on the flight back from Paris. The trophy was welcomed with a loud cheer after Eder Militao brought it on the plane. One of the songs played on the flight was "DNA" by Kendrick Lamar.
This is what Real Madrid are. They have royal blood. They celebrated like kings.
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