Real Madrid

The end of one year and the beginning of another always invites reflection and the making of resolutions for the next 365 days. Excitement becomes the focus and the continued demand for high standards becomes the driving force that has always led this club, passionate about fighting to the end towards aims that others imagine to be unattainable and to achieve ever greater feats. In the context of having won four titles in 2012, and with the ambition to add more in the future, Florentino Perez, Jose Mourinho, Pablo Laso, Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Felipe Reyes and Sergio Llull toast to a year full of success. "In 2013 we want to keep winning in football and basketball and I’m sure we will do so", said the Real Madrid president.

Florentino Perez has tasted perfection. He has lived as a fan, in his more than 50 years as a club member and his two stints as president. If something drives this club it is a philosophy based on effort, working towards excellence, the continued pursuit of victory, a spirit of constant improvement and the desire to go for the win and then to keep going relentlessly for more. The identity of this club does not allow anything other than the continued to fight to increase the number of accolades, which remains unique in the world, and indeed that is the hope and desire for the New Year: "First of all I wish for good health, which is the most important thing. Also for more jobs, which is one of the heaviest burdens on Spanish society at the moment. Sport generates a lot of excitement and it should serve to unite people. We want to keep winning in football and basketball and I’m sure we will do so. We also want to make a call for solidarity with those most in need, especially the children, which is the work we are doing with the Foundation".

Mourinho: "On the sporting side I hope to give my best so that in 2013 we can enjoy it like we did in 2012" It is not the first time that Mourinho toasts to a year full of success for Real Madrid. It is becoming a tradition that comes with titles that have also been brilliantly achieved. He did so to celebrate the arrival of 2011 and his team won the Copa del Rey in the best final in history and also in 2012, in which they won the league with 100 points and 121 goals and Spanish Super Cup against Barcelona. "I hope my wife and I stay healthy and see our children grow up, they are our life. Sportingly, I hope to continue, as always, feeling good in myself and doing my best in 2013 to work towards having the moments of joy like we had in 2012", said the Portuguese, who ended the year having managed his 400th top division match in his career.

The arrival of Pablo Laso on the basketball team’s bench has come accompanied by a quick and vertical game that the fans at the Palacio de los Deportes are enjoying. After winning the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup, the campaign that the team are having, as leaders of the Endesa League and qualifying for the Top 16 of the Euroleague after finishing first in their group in the previous round, invites us to think that the Basque coach is living by the same principles that his footballing counterpart has implemented: to win at least one title per year. "In 2013 I hope that the team continues to improve, keep winning titles, continue to compete every day and keep that good connection with our fans, with the club .... And I hope that when talking about Real Madrid basketball that people talk about a great team. That's what I want and if we can take some titles along the way then that would be even better", he said.

Casillas: "We hope to raise the bar set last year, even though we know it will not be easy" Iker Casillas has been at the club for a lifetime. He joined the academy at the age of nine and, after passing through practically all of the club’s teams, he is in his third season as first team captain. His personal experience during this time makes him aware that if anything characterises Real Madrid it is the continued necessity to win that has led to the enviable collection of accolades: "We hope to raise the bar that was set last year. We know it will not be easy because every opponent, when they play against Real Madrid, want to do their best and beat us. Our goal should be to raise the bar".

Felipe Reyes has had a very special 2012. At 32 years of age, he lifted his first Copa del Rey with the Whites and won one of the few titles that was not on his CV: the Spanish Super Cup. As captain, his wishes for 2013 could be said of the entire team: "More than anything else I ask for good health, it is what is most important. Without good health nothing else matters. On the sporting side I obviously ask for more titles. It's what we all want ... players, coaches, fans. It would be nice to keep winning titles like in 2012. If possible, the league and the Euroleague".

Sergio Ramos is the perfect complement to Casillas. If the captain talks about the spirit of excellence and titles, the vice-captain completes the picture talking about ideals: "I wish for the good health of everyone. Being aware of the crisis that we are living in and that there are problems within families, health is the most important thing for any household. I wish for everyone to be in their best of health and to be happy with their loved ones".

Llull: "We are going to give our all and do our best to give the fans moments to enjoy" Sergio Llull not only shares a name with Ramos. They are able to bear the responsibility of leading the best team in history and they also share their confidence, boldness and leadership abilities. These qualities have meant that the words of the vice-captains of football and basketball are something for their teammates to look to. "For 2013 I wish everyone good health and to continue achieving sporting successes and that we can celebrate them together. The players are going to give their all and make every effort to do all we can and try to lift a title for the fans to enjoy again, which they deserve", said the Menorcan point guard as statement of intent for 2013. His words that perfectly summarised the wishes of these seven pillars of the club.